A total of 122 college students in Anda and Bolinao in Pangasinan, and in Naguilian in La Union, have been tapped for the Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The Tutors and Youth Development Workers (TYDWs) started tutoring on Sept. 16, along with parenting sessions with the learners’ parents, and will end on Oct. 13 this year, according to a statement from the DSWD Ilocos Region field office on Thursday.

The DSWD Field Office 1 said the YDWs received their initial pay for the cash-for-work, while the parents received participation incentives on Sept. 30 worth a total of over PHP1.5 million.

“The YDWs each received PHP5,050 for the first 10 sessions, while seven YDWs who replaced those who did not continue with the program received a total of over PHP11,000,” it added.

DSWD Field Office 1 said the 400 parents of learner-beneficiaries also each received a PHP235 daily incentive for all 10-day sessions they attended.

Tara, Basa! is a community-based initiative of the DSWD that aims to strengthen educational support to geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) through tutoring and parenting sessions.

It also aids low-income families and college students while empowering them to be involved in nation-building through cash-for-work.

“As tutors, the college students will teach children who are struggling or non-readers. Youth Development Workers, on the other hand, will conduct parenting sessions with parents or guardians on the care and protection of children and guide them to be the first teachers at home or ‘Nanay-Tatay Teacher,’” DSWD stated. (PNA)