More than 3,000 college students from Metro Manila have received financial aid through the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program. The initiative aims to support students while addressing literacy challenges among elementary learners. The program provides cash-for-work (CFW) payments to students who serve as tutors or youth development workers (YDWs), helping struggling or non-reader elementary pupils.
The recent payout took place on September 23, 2024, at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Valenzuela (PLV), where 500 students received their CFW payments. According to DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao, the Tara, Basa! participants engaged in reading sessions for elementary students and facilitated parenting sessions for parents under the Nanay-Tatay teacher program.
Supporting Education and Earning Income
In the latest CFW distribution, students who completed 20 sessions of tutoring or Nanay-Tatay sessions received PHP 12,480 each. The payout amount is based on the regional daily minimum wage rates in the National Capital Region (NCR), which increased to PHP 645 per day starting July 2024. Over the past weekend, from September 20 to 22, a total of 2,857 tutors and YDWs from various cities, including Mandaluyong, Pasig, Marikina, and Quezon City, also received their CFW payments.
Querubin Ruiz Timogan, a fourth-year Bachelor of Secondary Education student from PLV, expressed how this financial aid helps with his school expenses. Timogan shared that the money will be used to buy a laptop, which is essential for his thesis work and upcoming teaching internship. His experience as a tutor in the DSWD program has also helped him develop skills that will benefit him in his future career as an educator.
Expanding the Program’s Reach
The DSWD’s Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program has expanded beyond Metro Manila, following a successful pilot implementation in 2023. It now operates in several other regions, including Central Luzon, Central Visayas, and Northern Mindanao. Through the program, DSWD recruits college students from state and local universities and trains them to provide literacy support to elementary students who are struggling to read.
The initiative also aims to provide financial support to these student-tutors, many of whom come from low-income families. DSWD spokesperson Dumlao explained that the program is designed to ease students’ financial burden while giving them an opportunity to help their communities. The cash-for-work payment is distributed based on the regional minimum wage rates, which vary by location.
Experiences from Tutors and Youth Development Workers
Ariane Azel Bialen, who participated as a YDW in this year’s implementation of the Tara, Basa! Program, shared how working with parents during Nanay-Tatay sessions has been a transformative experience. Bialen observed that parents became more engaged in their children’s learning process and were able to strengthen their family bonds through the program. She plans to use the cash aid for her own education while also sharing some of it with her parents.
For many student-tutors, the program not only provides much-needed financial assistance but also offers valuable teaching experience. The lessons learned from interacting with both students and parents will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on their future careers.
Benefits to Parents and Children
The Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program creates a comprehensive learning ecosystem, engaging not only students but also their parents and guardians. Through the Nanay-Tatay sessions, parents learn how to better support their children’s education, leading to improved family dynamics and stronger academic outcomes. The DSWD’s commitment to addressing literacy challenges in the Philippines continues to expand with the success of the Tara, Basa! initiative.
The program’s expansion to regions outside NCR reflects the government’s dedication to helping both college students and struggling elementary learners across the country. With this dual approach, the DSWD is simultaneously addressing education gaps while offering financial support to low-income families.
Final Thoughts
The DSWD’s Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program continues to make significant strides in both supporting education and providing financial aid to students. More than just a tutoring initiative, it fosters an ecosystem where college students, elementary learners, and their parents can all benefit. By involving parents in the learning process, the program aims to create long-term positive outcomes for both students and their families. As the program expands, more students and families across the Philippines stand to gain from the educational and financial assistance it provides.
Video: Tara Basa CFW Payout – NCR
Watch this video to see how the Tara, Basa! Program culminates and provides financial support to college students by employing them as tutors and youth development workers under the DSWD Cash-for-work (CFW) Program:
Check these pictures for a list of requirements needed during the CFW Payout:
