GENERAL SANTOS CITY (PIA) – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Region 12 reported that the pilot implementation of its “Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program” has effectively addressed learning difficulties among Grade 2 students in the city.
Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program aims to provide quality educational assistance to children who may be struggling academically, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to succeed.
Jerry Dumdum, DSWD program information officer, said the initiative, which piloted in General Santos City in 2024, intends to empower students, strengthen literacy, and support low-income families whose children experience learning difficulties.
“Ang Tara, Basa Tutoring Program is actually launched last year dito sa General Santos City po talaga. Dito ‘yung pilot implementation sa Gensan sa lahat ng mga lugar sa buong Region 12,” he said during the PIA SarGen “i-Inform Mo” radio program over RPN-dxDX General Santos City.
(The Tara, Basa Tutoring Program was actually launched last year here in General Santos City as the pilot implementation area for Region 12.)
With its success in General Santos, Dumdum said the program will be rolled out to other areas in the region, covering South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and Cotabato Province.
“Dahil nga naging successful itong Tara, Basa dito sa atin, sa buong Region 12, lahat na po ng region ay may Tara, Basa Tutoring Program na po,” Dumdum added.
(Because this Tara, Basa has been successful here with us, in the entire Region 12, all regions now have the Tara, Basa Tutoring Program.)
The program recruits low-income college students as tutors and youth development workers (YDW) to assist struggling readers while also supporting their education through a cash-for-work scheme.
“Bale, ‘yung mga benepisyaryo po natin dito ay ‘yung ating mga college students na kabilang po sa mga low-income families, at sila po ‘yung ginagawa nating mga tutors and youth development workers,” he explained.
(So, our beneficiaries here are our college students who belong to low-income families, and they are the ones we make into tutors and youth development workers.)
Aside from tutoring children, the youth development workers also teach parents through “Nanay-Tatay Learning Sessions” to promote literacy at home so that they will be the ones to teach their children when the program ends.
Dumdum clarified that assigned tutors also undergo training, workshops, mentoring, or coaching first before they are deployed to the communities.
In 2025, the program will cover multiple areas in Soccsksargen, with General Santos City targeting 1,500 learners.
The program will also launch in Polomolok, Tupi, Tampakan, Lake Sebu, and Koronadal City in South Cotabato, with 700 students for each area.
Sarangani’s targeted areas include Kiamba, Maasim, Malapatan, and Alabel, while Sultan Kudarat’s are Tacurong, Isulan, Bagumbayan, Senator Ninoy Aquino, Lebak, and Kalamansig.
Meanwhile, Cotabato Province has the largest beneficiaries, with 2,543 learners across Makilala, Kidapawan, Magpet, President Roxas, Arakan, Kabacan, Carmen, Mlang, Pikit, Alamada, Midsayap, Libungan, Pigcawayan, and other municipalities.
Executive Order No. 76 establishes Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program, partnering with the Department of Education to identify and endorse non-readers for inclusion in the program. (SRP – PIA SarGen)
