South Cotabato Among the Top 10 Most Literate Provinces in the Philippines

South Cotabato has once again proven that strategic investments in education yield long-term success. The province has secured a spot in the Top 10 Most Literate Provinces in the Philippines, according to the 2024 Functional Literacy, Education, and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS) released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

With a functional illiteracy rate of only 23%, South Cotabato ranks 9th nationwide, affirming that 77% of its population possesses the ability to read, write, compute, and comprehend information necessary for daily living. The province joins high-performing areas such as Benguet, Apayao, Romblon, Batangas, Siquijor, Cavite, and Bohol, and is notably the only province from Mindanao to make it to the top 10.

Governor Reynaldo S. Tamayo, Jr., in a press conference earlier this week, proudly shared the milestone, emphasizing that the achievement is a reflection of the province’s ongoing commitment to free and inclusive education.

“Dito sa South Cotabato, libre ang edukasyon mula elementary hanggang kolehiyo — kaya hindi na nakakagulat na napakataas ng ating literacy rate,” Governor Tamayo stated.

The governor also linked this educational progress to the recent 2025 Midterm Elections, where he and many of his allies secured resounding victories at the polls.

“Hindi nagpadala sa pera ang mga taga-South Cotabato,” Tamayo remarked. “Para saan pa at napakataas ng literacy rate ng ating probinsya kung hindi rin ito magsasalin sa matalinong pagboto? Bayaran man ang South Cotabateños, boboto pa rin ito ng tama.”

Governor Tamayo emphasized that a well-informed and educated electorate is harder to manipulate and more likely to choose leaders based on performance and integrity.

As he enters his third and final term as governor, Tamayo reaffirmed his administration’s focus on strengthening both the education and healthcare systems of South Cotabato. He said the goal is to ensure that the next administration inherits systems that are already working and fully institutionalized.

“Gusto natin maramdaman ng bawat mamamayan ang tunay na pag-angat—sa kabuhayan, sa serbisyo, at sa kinabukasan,” he said.

South Cotabato’s inclusion in the Top 10 most literate provinces is a powerful testament to the province’s forward-thinking leadership and to the belief that education remains one of the most effective tools in uplifting communities and promoting good governance.