LUCENA CITY, Quezon — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region IV-A officially launched the 2026 cycle of the Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program (TBTP) on Monday, May 4, targeting thousands of elementary students across the CALABARZON region.
The initiative aims to address the country’s learning gap by pairing struggling readers in public schools with college student-tutors from low-income families.
Under this cycle, the program has mobilized 1,673 college students to serve as tutors and youth development workers (YDWs). Their mission is to provide intensive reading interventions to 3,855 incoming Grade 2 learners who have been identified by the Department of Education (DepEd) as non-readers or struggling readers.
- Tutoring Sessions: Tutors conduct a 20-day reading program designed to improve literacy and prepare children for the upcoming academic year.
- Expansion Areas: While the program has been active in Quezon Province and Bacoor City, Cavite since 2024, this year marks its expansion into:
- Calaca City, Batangas
- Sta. Cruz, Cavinti, and Cabuyao City, Laguna
- Tayabas City, Quezon
A unique component of the TBTP is the involvement of parents and guardians. Parallel to the children’s tutoring, YDWs facilitate “Nanay-Tatay” sessions to empower parents as “first teachers” at home.
“The goal is to create a holistic learning ecosystem,” a DSWD spokesperson explained. “By training parents to continue the reading practice at home, we ensure that the progress made during the 20-day sessions is sustained.”
The program functions as a dual-benefit social protection measure:
- For College Students: Tutors and YDWs (mostly 2nd- to 4th-year students in education or social work) receive cash-for-work assistance equivalent to the prevailing regional daily wage for their 20 days of service.
- For Young Learners: The DSWD is distributing specialized learner kits to over 5,000 beneficiaries. These kits include school supplies, a backpack, a flashlight, and a whistle to encourage active and safe participation in the sessions.
The Tara, Basa! program was recently institutionalized as a flagship government project through Executive Order No. 76, signed in late 2024. Nationally, the DSWD aims to reach at least 130,000 beneficiaries in 2026, partnering with over 120 higher education institutions and nearly 200 local government units to combat “learning poverty” across the Philippines.