ZAMBOANGA CITY (PIA)— Zamboanga City has been selected as the pilot site for the Department of Education’s (DepEd) flagship reading recovery initiative, Bawat Bata Makababasa (BBM).
This 20-day intensive reading program aims to address the concerningly low reading comprehension rates in the Zamboanga Peninsula, which has consistently ranked among the lowest-performing regions in end-of-school-year assessments.
According to Education Assistant Secretary Carmela Oracion, the BBM program is expected to benefit approximately 70,000 learners in the region.
While acknowledging the low performance as a significant concern, Oracion emphasized the strong motivation and robust community involvement within the Zamboanga Peninsula, particularly in Zamboanga City, as crucial factors in the region’s selection.
“What stood out was the deep engagement of DepEd officials and communities here. We believe that is essential for the program’s success,” she stated.
Despite being a highly urbanized city, Zamboanga City exhibits low reading performance among its students. Oracion attributed this to several interconnected factors, including frequent student absenteeism, a scarcity of sufficient reading and instructional materials, and limited parental support for learning at home.
“There are many poor families who don’t have access to books or materials that can expose their children to reading at an early age. Parents are busy working, and unfortunately, that means less attention to their children’s learning,” she explained.
The Bawat Bata Makababasa program is already generating positive responses from parents, educators, and volunteers within the community.
For Angelou Cabillo, a parent residing in Zamboanga City, the initiative offers a sense of hope and opportunity.
“Mabuti mayroong ganito para yung mga bata matuto pa magbasa at magsulat (This is a great initiative because it helps children improve their reading and writing),” Cabillo emphasized.
Darl Wilson Salialam, a volunteer teacher who joined the program as a stepping stone in his professional development, shared his observations:
“Many high school students struggle with basic reading comprehension. That’s because they lack a solid foundation. As someone trained in early childhood education, I know how crucial early reading is. Instead of staying home this summer, I chose to give back and grow as an educator.”
Oracion also highlighted the challenges posed by modern distractions such as gadgets and online content to traditional learning methods. However, she expressed optimism that the key lies not in rejecting media but in adapting teaching strategies to be equally engaging and relevant. Following the conclusion of the 20-day pilot program in Zamboanga City, DepEd will conduct a thorough study of the outcomes to identify best practices that can be applied across all regions nationwide. (EDT/MLE/PIA9-Zamboanga City)
