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Home⇛International Journal of Multidisciplinary: Applied Business and Education Research⇛vol. 6 no. 8 (2025)

Functional Literacy Level of Officials in Selected Barangays: Basis for an Extension Project

Ruby T. Galang | Jocelyn Y. Arrozal | Leila Cortez | Angelo Regala

Discipline: Development Studies

 

Abstract:

This research investigates the functional literacy levels of barangay offi-cials in selected agricultural communities within Guagua, Pampanga, aiming to design an extension program that improves governance effectiveness. Employing a quantitative descriptive design, the study utilizes a modified DepEd-ALS functional literacy test to evaluate reading, writing, and numer-acy competencies among 30 elected officials across Ascomo, Pulungmasle, and Maquiapo. The findings reveal a significant gap between academic qual-ifications and practical literacy skills, with over 36% of respondents classi-fied at the beginning literacy level. This underscores the need for targeted interventions, especially in remote areas with limited access to education. The study contextualizes functional literacy as a pivotal element for pub-lic service delivery, transparency, and civic engagement. Results show that while 80% of respondents attained college education, their functional abili-ties in written communication, budgeting, and digital tasks vary signifi-cantly. The proposed extension program is a six-week, module-based train-ing covering reading, writing, numeracy, communication, and digital liter-acy. Recommendations include integrating technological tools, routine as-sessments, and peer mentorship to sustain improvements. Ultimately, en-hancing functional literacy is framed not just as a personal upgrade for offi-cials, but as a foundational strategy for community empowerment, respon-sive governance, and sustainable development.



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