The Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) “Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program” has been designated as a flagship government program.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, by the authority of the President, signed Executive Order No. 76 declaring the “Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program” a flagship program to ensure the assistance of national and local government agencies in establishing a “collaborative learning program.”

It is a community-based social welfare and development program that aims to help elementary learners, who have difficulties learning how to read, to develop their foundational reading skills while offering short-term work for financially challenged tertiary level students.

Under the EO, the DSWD is mandated to identify eligible beneficiaries; formulate learning and development activities; develop databases for progress reporting; and create an evaluation and monitoring framework for the program.

The DSWD is also tasked to report annually to the Office of the President on the status and progress of the program’s implementation.

EO 76 was signed on Nov. 22, a copy of which was made public Tuesday.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development welcomed Malacañang’s issuance of EO 76.

“We express our gratitude to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for acknowledging the educational assistance program initiated by DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian. We are honored to spearhead this initiative, which aims to support low-income students and families,” DSWD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said in a statement.

Under the Tara, Basa, college students are trained and placed in selected elementary schools to enhance the reading proficiency of elementary students and conduct Nanay-Tatay teacher sessions for parents and guardians of the grade school beneficiaries.

In return, college students receive financial aid based on the regional minimum wage rate in their areas in exchange for the 20 tutorial and parenting sessions.

Meanwhile, parents and guardians who attend Nanay-Tatay learning sessions are given PHP235 fee per session.

The DSWD launched the Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program in the National Capital Region (NCR) in August 2023.

The program was expanded in 2024 in partnership with the local government units in Central Luzon, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Soccsksargen, and Calabarzon.

In 2024, a total of 120,359 college students, struggling and non-reader elementary learners, and parents benefitted from the agency’s tutoring program. (PNA)