Manila, July 1 -- A nationwide campaign that mobilizes local government units (LGUs) to lead local reading initiatives is expected to help improve foundational literacy rates and ease the strain on overstretched public school teachers, education officials said Tuesday.

The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) co-chair Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo said local governments play a pivotal role in supporting struggling readers through barangay reading hubs, mobile libraries, volunteer tutors and community-based remediation programs.

"If we truly want to reach children who struggle with reading, there needs to be coordination from the barangay to the city level," Romulo said in a news release. "This can help ease the burden o...