Philippines Projects - Basic Filipino Literacy Facts
Based on reports, the five regions with the lowest literacy rates were: Central Mindanao (78.3 percent), Western Mindanao (80.4 percent), Eastern Visayas (81.7 percent), CAR (86.4 percent) and Bicol Region (87.3 percent). Incidentally, these are also among the country’s most economically depressed regions. Occupying the top four slots of the most improved regions in terms of lowering illiteracy were: Eastern Visayas (9.2 percentage point increment), Bicol (7.6 percentage points), Central Mindanao (6.8 percentage points) and Western Mindanao (5.6 percentage points). Based on findings, it can be said that, in general, the government has been successful in reducing illiteracy in economically depressed, disadvantaged and underserved areas, or the so-called priority areas. One Million Words is focusing on Central and Eastern Mindanao, as well as Bicol.
Philippines Project: Damilag Elementary School, Paquibato District, Davao, Philippines
Damilag Elementary School teaches students in grades first through sixth in Northern Mindanao. The school has 30 instructional rooms and 10 non-instructional rooms, which are all powered by a power grid. With 1,019 students, class size is around 34 students. For the 2013-14 school year, Damilag had 1,019 students enrolled. This makes the school a big school, with 769 more students than the average school. The school has more male students (528) than female students (491) - for every one female student there are 1.1 male students.
Philippines Project: Binaton Elementary School, Caraga, Davao Oriental, Philippines
The project ran from March 30th to 31st 2015 and it successfully donated 300 elementary and primary level reading books to the Binaton Elementary School located in Caraga, Davao Oriental, Region XI, in the north eastern area of Mindanao, Philippines. In 2012, Caraga was severely devastated by Typhoon Pablo, which claimed almost 2,000 lives. There have been numerous rebuilding efforts and relief projects in the region, but the One Million Words project was unique as it is supplied much needed reading resources to the local school, which has a student population of 208. The donations included class curriculum books as well as works of fiction for the students' enjoyment.
Philippines Project: Tigbawan Elementary School, Mindanao, Philippines
In early April One Million Words was able to make a second donation to an elementary school in Mindanao. Tigbawan Elementary School located at Don Leon Ballante, Caraga, Davao Oriental was presented with over 300 books by our OMW staff and directors in the Philippines. Tigbawan Elementary School teaches students in grades first through sixth in Caraga, Davao Oriental of Davao (Region XI). The school has 5 instructional rooms and 0 non-instructional rooms, which are all powered by a power grid. With 150 students, class size is around 30 students. Honey Lou F. Pinero is in charge of the school, acting as the school’s Teacher.