Manila, June 25 -- The city government here expects the implementation of the "Barangay Pagbasa" ordinance to sustain and further boost Baguio's high literacy rate.

"This is one of the initiatives we have undertaken to ensure that students who need help will be assisted and none of them will be left behind," councilor Vladimir Cayabas, author of the ordinance that was passed on final reading and signed by Mayor Benjamin Magalong on June 17, said.

The ordinance is up for posting and publication, which will determine its date of effectivity.

The program was first started by the Department of Education (DepEd) during the pandemic as a support program. It involves the conduct of free reading lessons to children in certain areas in the vill...