The Philippines is a country with a rapidly expanding population, estimated at 75.6 Million Filipinos(2000 Census). It is estimated that 36.80% live below the poverty threshold(1997). Data from the NSO 2003 Functional Literacy, Education and Mass Media Survey show that one in ten of the population aged 10 to 60 years old cannot read or write or are basically illiterate. The study shows that functi
onal literacy or the ability to read, write, compute and comprehend increases with an increasing level of education. Based on income, the non-poor has a functional literacy of 9 of ten in the population age range studied. Among the poor, the ratio of functionally literate people goes down to 7 of ten. Leganes, the hometown of the Jorge Landoy - Gloria Juntarciego Family, is a 4th class municipality of Iloilo Province, part of Region 6 or Western Visayas in the Philippines. It has a population of 23,475 people (2000 Census), comprising 4,533 households. Population growth is 3.98% annually and is projected to reach 37,000 by 2012. Total number of young dependents is 9,544. Literacy rate is estimated at an average of 93%, with urban areas having higher number of literate people of 6,239 or 96% and 260 illiterates or 4%. Literacy is lower in rural areas with 10,516 literates (91%) and 1,040 (9%) illiterates. The total number of school-aged individuals in Leganes is 8,484 (2000 data). The number of elementary school age children or those belonging to 6-12 age bracket is estimated at 3,981(47%), 13-16 age group or of high school level 2,099 individuals (28%), and 2,405 or 28% are in the tertiary level. Availability of Schools and Universities
Per data taken from the LGU Profile of Leganes, there are ten(10) elementary schools and one primary school in 10 of 18 barangays. The following is a list of the public schools in Leganes;
Napnud serves 3 coastal barangays, MV Hechanova and Gua-an
Nabitasan serves Gua-an
Cari Mayor serves Cari Minor and Mayor
Guinobatan serves Guinobatan and Cari Minor
Central School poblacion serves San Vicente and Cagamutan Sur
Guihaman Elementary School serves Guihaman and Buntatala
Guintas Elementary School serves Guintas, Bigke and Camangay
There is no data as yet as to the number of high school students needing financial aid or those that lack or have no money for fares, school supplies, projects etc. If we assume that 10% of the high school and college level age-bracket individuals come from families with incomes below the poverty threshold (national average is 36.80% of total population in 1997), then about 210 high school and 240 college students will need financial assistance for allowances for their daily school expenses such as transportation, lunch and school supplies. Through the Jorge P. Landoy Foundation, and through the above high schools, the Landoy Family desires to accomplish the goal of improving the literacy rate of the people of Leganes, especially those from rural areas in order to improve their potential and capability to earn and thus improve their chances to break free from the fetters and seemingly endless cycle of ignorance and poverty.
