DSWD collaborates with Siargao town for ‘Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program’
By Susil D. Ragas
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte (PIA) — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga conducted exploratory meetings on this year’s implementation of the Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program (TBTP) with the local government unit of Del Carmen on Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte, to provide broader learning opportunities and boost literacy in the town.
Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program is a developmental and community-based social protection that aids low-income families and college students while empowering them to be involved in community development as tutors and youth development workers through cash-for-work.
It also represents DSWD’s significant step in addressing literacy gaps while supporting local families in the town.
The TBTP team presented the objectives and key components of the program, including the cash-for-work scheme for college students, youth career development initiatives, literacy interventions for children, and the active role of parents in supporting learning at home.
Meanwhile, the LGU expressed positive feedback and signified their readiness to further strengthen their partnership with DSWD Caraga.
Leonida, a mother of two primary school children and a resident of the town, was elated and looked forward to the implementation of said program. “Many of our children are still struggling to catch up with their reading and comprehension skills. Knowing that they will soon receive support through this initiative, it gives us great hope for their academic future.”
“We also appreciate how this program supports college students by providing them with opportunities to serve as tutors. We are ready to cooperate and support this program in any way we can to ensure its success for the sake of our children’s education,” she said.
Meanwhile, DSWD Caraga initially launched in March 2025 the TBTP in the municipalities of Dapa and General Luna, both located on Siargao Island. They also distributed thousands of localized workbooks and ‘Nanay-Tatay’ modules to ensure that teaching materials are accessible and effective for family-beneficiaries. (SDR, PIA Surigao del Norte with a report from DSWD-Caraga)
