ODIONGAN, Romblon (PIA) — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has launched its “Tara, Basa!” tutoring program in Odiongan, Romblon, providing financial aid to underprivileged college students while improving literacy among struggling elementary school readers.
DSWD Undersecretary for Innovations Eduardo Punay emphasized that this initiative is more than just assistance—it also engages students in nation-building by requiring them to contribute to education in exchange for financial support.
“This is our reformatted educational assistance wherein we provide cash-for-work for our indigent college students in state and local universities and colleges. Hindi na lang tayo basta ayuda ngayon. We require them to contribute to nation-building kapalit ng educational assistance,” Punay told Philippine Information Agency-Romblon.
Under the program, participating college students must teach reading to non-reader elementary pupils in exchange for an honorarium equivalent to the regional minimum wage. Tutors are expected to earn over ₱8,000 for 20 days of teaching.
According to Dr. Emelyn Montoria, Vice President for Academic Affairs of Romblon State University (RSU), a total of 116 college students from RSU will serve as tutors for 386 elementary learners in Odiongan.
The municipality of Odiongan is one of the only two areas in the MIMAROPA region selected for the program’s pilot implementation.
Odiongan mayor Trina Firmalo-Fabic welcomed the initiative, saying it benefits both young learners and college students by enhancing literacy while providing financial support.
“Maganda siya kasi ‘yung mga elementary learners natin ay matututo lalo na magbasa, at the same time, ‘yung college students natin ay magkakaroon ng chance na suportahan ang sarili nila dahil makakatanggap sila ng honorarium for this work. At the same time, makakapag-practice teach sila, dahil mga education students din ito. Napakagandang programa ng DSWD, and we are really very happy and grateful for this program,” Fabic said.
Meanwhile, Department of Education (DepEd) Romblon Assistant Schools Division Superintendent Cynthia Eleonor Manalo noted that despite the province’s strong national reading assessment performance, reading comprehension remains a challenge that needs to be addressed.
Currently, Tara, Basa! is being implemented in 11 regions nationwide and continues to expand under Executive Order No. 76, signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The program aims to ensure sustainable funding and provide more Filipino children with the opportunity to develop strong reading skills. (PJF/PIA MIMAROPA-Romblon)
