In Cebu City, the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Tara, Basa! initiative has successfully trained 3,701 parents, parent substitutes, and guardians to enhance children’s reading abilities. Shalaine Marie Lucero, the regional director of DSWD in Central Visayas, highlighted the program’s achievements in 2024, emphasizing the role of the Nanay-Tatay Teacher Sessions in this training effort.
Lucero pointed out that the program not only focuses on improving reading habits but also on empowering young people through education and financial support. As part of this initiative, 676 college students have been trained to act as tutors for struggling readers in public elementary schools. These students also serve as youth development workers, facilitating the Nanay-Tatay learning sessions.
To acknowledge their contributions, these student tutors receive cash-for-work compensation, which supports them financially while allowing them to gain valuable experience and make a significant impact in their communities.
The DSWD has formalized the program’s structure with Administrative Order No. 10, issued on May 17, 2024, which established the National and Regional Program Management Offices. Further guidelines for implementation were outlined in Memorandum Circular No. 29, released on July 30, 2024.
Recently, the DSWD’s regional office in Central Visayas held an orientation session for the newly trained tutors, marking another step forward in the program’s ongoing efforts to improve literacy among the youth.