WHEREAS, the Constitution provides that the State shall encourage non-formal, informal, and indigenous learning systems, as well as self-learning, independent, and out-of-school study programs particularly those that respond to community needs;

WHEREAS, there is a need to highlight the importance of literacy and education, given government ™s vision of a globally competitive and newly industrializing country that would be better achieved with the improvement of the quality of our human resources through literacy and education;

WHEREAS, the Congress of the Philippines, enacted Republic Act No. 7165, an act creating the Literacy Coordinating Council, defining its powers and functions, appropriating funds therefor and other purposes, declaring it the policy of the State to give highest priority to the adoption of measures for the total eradication of illiteracy; and

WHEREAS, the Literacy Coordinating Council in the pursuit of its mandate has formulated the National Blueprint for Action in the Eradication of Illiteracy. This document defines a common philosophy for all literacy programs, presents overall policies and strategies and suggest appropriate structures and mechanisms.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FIDEL V. RAMOS, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the power vested in me by law, do hereby order all concerned government agencies and local government units to adopt the Literacy Coordinating Council LCC Blueprint for Action as framework or guideline in developing policies and implementing programs and projects related to literacy.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 15th day of April, in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Ninety-Seven.

(Sgd.) FIDEL V. RAMOS
President of the Philippines

By the President:
(Sgd.) RUBEN D. TORRES
Executive Secretary