Ladies and gentlemen,

I am very grateful for this opportunity to address an issue I feel very strongly about: the importance of literacy.
Literacy competence is the foundation of all other learning. It is the key to continuous learning and
keeping up with what is going on in the world, and to being a full member of a community.

We live in a world where technological advances constantly open up new forms of social, cultural and
democratic participation. And workplaces increasingly reward the ability to acquire new skills throughout
one's working life. But all these exciting opportunities are denied to those with only limited basic skills.
They are excluded from further education or training. They find themselves increasingly locked out of
the labour market and society. This is already happening, right now in Philippines, where one in five pupils -and more
than 73 million adults - cannot read and write properly.

Improving literacy is not an objective for our development policies only. It is a task for our internal
policies as well. It is clear that we need to step up our efforts, for the sake of our citizens, of our
economies and our societies. That is why literacy is a crucial element of Philippine's growth strategy,
with its strong emphasis on education and training.

We all need to do more!

First of all, achieving real improvement in literacy requires political ownership and co-operation across
the policy spectrum. Literacy strategies must cover all ages and be independent of political timetables.
Family environment is crucial, too, so family literacy programmes should be promoted, to help parents
develop their literacy skills and the confidence they need to engage their children and motivate them to
read. Finally, it is important to develop broad public awareness-raising campaigns at local, regional and
national level on the relevance, value and joy of reading and writing.

As a concern citizen has put it, their report should be seen as a wake-up call. We cannot afford to let
that call go unheeded.

For a start, we will shortly establish a Philippine network of literacy organisations to facilitate the sharing
of good practices and policy initiatives aimed at improving literacy performance across the Member
States.

Ladies and gentlemen,

I have briefly outlined the challenges that the world is facing in the area of literacy, together with some
of the initiatives we are taking to respond to them.

I am confident that the lessons we have drawn and the good practices we have identified could prove
useful also for those countries outside the Phil. that are also trying to raise literacy levels.

This is a task that we need to take very seriously, because the stakes are so high: No skill is as crucial
to the future of a child; or as essential to the building and strengthening of a democratic society, as the
ability to read and write.