In preparation for the 2025 implementation of the Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) signed tripartite agreements with state and local universities and colleges (S/LUCs) and local government units (LGUs) across the country.
Undersecretary Edu Punay of the DSWD’s Innovations and Program Development Group (IPDG) said the agency has partnered with 66 S/LUCs whose responsibility is to conduct the initial screening of 2nd to 4th year college students belonging to low income families, as prospective beneficiaries of the program.
In a ceremonial signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with LGUs and S/LUCs which was held at the Municipal Office in Dapa, Surigao del Norte on Friday (February 28), Undersecretary Punay said the partnership signifies their shared commitment to assist college students in completing their tertiary education while enhancing the reading proficiency of public elementary students.
“The DSWD expresses its gratitude to the LGUs and higher education institutions (HEIs) of Surigao Del Norte for supporting this initiative that gives hope to college students struggling with their finances and to public elementary students struggling with reading,” Undersecretary Punay said.
The participating S/LUCs came from Regions 1 (Ilocos Region); 3 (Central Luzon); 5 (Bicol Region); 7 (Central Visayas); 8 (Eastern Visayas); 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula); 10 (Northern Mindanao); 12 (SOCCSKSARGEN); CALABARZON; MIMAROPA; Caraga; and the National Capital Region (NCR).
Undersecretary Punay said these higher education institutions are also responsible in the matching and deployment of tutors from S/LUCs and grade school learners from public elementary schools; and in providing venue and other logistical support during the Tara, Basa payout activities for beneficiaries, especially for tutors and youth development workers (YDWs).
Some of the partner-S/LUCs include the Pangasinan State University in Lingayen, Pangasinan; Bulacan State University in Bulacan Province; Laguna State Polytechnic University in Quezon Province; and Romblon State University in Odiongan, Romblon.
“We are also tapping college students from public universities in the NCR; Bicol University in Albay; Cebu Normal University in Cebu City; Samar State University in Catbalogan City; Western Mindanao State University in Zamboanga City; Mindanao State University in Marawi City; University of Southern Mindanao in Kabacan, Cotabato; and Caraga State University in Butuan City, among others,” Undersecretary Punay said.
For the LGUs, they are responsible for overseeing the implementation of the tutoring program within their jurisdictions; providing venues, vehicles, and other logistical support during payout and conduct of sessions; and ensuring the safety and security of the DSWD personnel assigned to coordinate and/or facilitate the implementation of the program in their respective municipality.
Under the program, college students were trained to become tutors and YDWs, and were deployed in select public elementary schools to help improve the reading proficiency of grade school students and hold Nanay-Tatay teacher sessions for parents and guardians of the grade school beneficiaries, respectively.
According to Undersecretary Punay, the Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program is a conditional program of the DSWD that gives cash-for-work (CFW) to college students, based on the prevailing regional daily minimum wage, in exchange for rendering 20 tutoring and learning sessions.
“When we came into office, we envisioned transforming the Department from dole-out projects and making it more into developmental programs. We hope our tutors can be part of our nation building under the leadership of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., which is also the vision of the Bagong Pilipinas,” Undersecretary Punay pointed out.
The tutorial and ‘Nanay-Tatay Teacher’ sessions are set to take place from May to June.
The Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program is the DSWD’s reformatted educational assistance in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd). It was declared as a flagship program of the national government by President Marcos through Executive Order 76, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on November 22, 2024. #
