The Literacy Coordinating Council hold a Literacy Forum with Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), Local Government Units (LGUs ) and other Stakeholders in Mindanao with a theme “Strengthening Partnership and Networking of Literacy Advocates” on June 1, 2011; 9:00 a.m. at the College of Law Building, Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) Zamboanga City.

The forum aimed to:

• establish, strenthen and sustain linkage with NGOs, LGUs and other stakeholders involved in literacy work;

• learn from good practices on literacy programs/community education and create opportunities for continuing and/or scaling them up through government-NGO collaboration;

• map out current and emerging functional literacy/education needs that are not addressed and strategize on interventions to meet the gaps; and

• create a synergy between the NGOs-POs, the government and the LCC where functional literacy/community education policies and actions are collectively planned, monitored and evaluated every year through the establishment or reactivation of local LCC bodies at different levels.

This is the fifth year the Literacy Coordinating Council (LCC) has hold its forum for NGOs, LGUs and other stakeholders. The Council has always found its dialogues with NGOs enriching and rewarding.

This year, The LCC, NGOs, LGUs and other stakeholders has work together for a common and noble cause-the universalization of literacy in our country.

The forum results in multi-dimensional cooperation – between communities, government, civil society and NGOs, the private sector, and individuals.

The five (5) previous events were conducted in 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2009. The participants of the forum were the national government agencies; non-government agencies; local government units; leagues of provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays; state colleges and universities; private organizations; and civil societies.