The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) conducts the 2019 Functional Literacy, Education and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS) enumeration on November 11 to December 6, 2019 with rider questions on access to government information, Open Distance Learning (ODL), and Filipino culture and values.

FLEMMS is one of the designated statistical activities of the PSA which generally provides a quantitative framework that will serve as basis in the formulation of policies and programs on the improvement of literacy and education status of the population. Specifically, the survey aims to estimate the proportion of the population 10 years old and over who are basically literate; to estimate the proportion of the population 10 to 64 years old who are functionally literate and to determine their socio-economic characteristics; to determine the educational skill qualifications of the population in terms of formal schooling; and to determine the mass media exposure of the population.

Data that will be generated from the rider questions, access to government information, and ODL will measure the level of awareness of Filipinos across the country on their rights to access to government information and will assess the awareness of Filipino households on existing ODL programs and technologies during the past twelve months. Similarly, data that will be generated from the questions on Filipino culture and values will measure the extent of pride of place among Filipinos, extent of awareness to the Philippines as a culturally diverse country, extent of tolerance for others, and individual’s perception or self-assessment as a creative person and extent of participation in creative endeavour.

A total of 28 Statistical Researchers will serve as interviewers for the sample households of Ilocos Region for the 2019 FLEMMS. Each sample household will be interviewed using the Household Questionnaire (FLEMMS Form 1) while the Individual Questionnaire (FLEMMS Form 2) will be administered to all eligible respondents aged 10 to 64 years old.

PSA ensures that all data to be collected shall be covered by the confidentiality of information clause under Section 26 of RA 10625, which stipulates that “individual data furnished by a respondent to statistical inquiries, surveys, and censuses of the PSA shall be considered privileged information and such shall be inadmissible as evidence in any proceeding.”