‘Tara, Basa’ tutorial drive launched to help struggling readers

Local

TUTORING sessions and food packages are taking center stage in Central Visayas as government agencies launched measures to help children read and families stay nourished amid ongoing literacy and nutrition challenges.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development-Central Visayas (DSWD 7) recently renewed the Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program (TBTP) through a tripartite agreement with local government units (LGUs) and higher education institutions on March 17, 2026.

The signing, held in Cebu City, was attended by mayors of participating cities and municipalities, university and college presidents, campus directors, and Department of Education (DepEd) superintendents.

Mayors present included Argao Mayor Allan Sesaldo, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Maria Cynthia Chan, Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Jovito Ouano, Medellin Mayor Edwin Salimbangon, Talisay City Mayor Gerald Anthony Gullas, and Toledo City Mayor Marjorie Perales.

Representatives from the City of Naga and the Cebu Provincial Government also witnessed the agreement, alongside leaders from partner higher education institutions, including Cebu Normal University and Lapu-Lapu City College.

For 2026, TBTP targets 12,970 beneficiaries.

This includes 1,870 college students who will serve as tutors and youth development workers (YDWs), 5,550 parents or guardians, and 5,550 learners who struggle with reading.

The program will operate in 12 local government units, including Cebu City, Danao City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, City of Naga, Talisay City, Toledo City, and the towns of Argao, Balamban, Barili, Malabuyoc, and Medellin.

The reading sessions and Nanay-Tatay parenting activities will be conducted in 262 public elementary schools.

College students from Cebu Normal University, Cebu Technological University, Lapu-Lapu City College, Mandaue City College, and Talisay City College will handle the reading tutorials, while YDWs will facilitate sessions for parents to strengthen their capacity to support their children’s learning at home.

The program will run for 20 days during DepEd’s summer break from May 4 to June 4, 2026, Mondays to Thursdays, with three-hour sessions each day.

The TBTP provides subsidies and capability-building activities for college students to prepare them for their roles, while learners and parents receive guidance and support designed to improve reading skills and parental involvement.

The program also coordinates with DepEd to select learners and parents based on reading assessments, ensuring targeted assistance to those who need it most.

Alongside the literacy drive, the Walang Gutom Program continues to address nutritional gaps.

From March 6 to 26, 2026, 22,941 beneficiaries in Cebu and Bohol may redeem pre-ordered food packages using Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards.

This includes 19,329 beneficiaries in Cebu and 3,612 in Bohol, across 89 LGUs in the two provinces.

Each P3,000 food credit is divided into 50 percent for carbohydrates, 30 percent for proteins, and 20 percent for fruits and vegetables.

Beneficiaries can redeem their packages at partner retailers in their respective municipalities and cities.

Officials reminded beneficiaries to confirm schedules and venues, as well as eligibility, through their barangays, LGUs, or Community Engagement Coordinators to ensure smooth redemption.

These interventions aim to tackle the dual challenges of low literacy and malnutrition in Central Visayas.

By combining reading tutorials, parental engagement, and access to nutritious food, DSWD and partner institutions are providing integrated support to help children improve their skills and families strengthen their well-being.

Cebu Gov. Pamela Baricuatro has ordered the Provincial Education Secretariat (PEdS) to coordinate with DSWD and partner institutions.

She also urged all local government units to prioritize participation, emphasizing that education and nutrition must go hand in hand to address long-term developmental challenges.

Data from the Comprehensive Rapid Literacy Assessment by the Second Congressional Commission on Education shows that struggling readers remain prevalent across urban centers in Cebu.

Talisay City recorded the highest proportion with 53 percent of early-grade pupils unable to read at grade level, followed by Cebu City at 47 percent, Lapu-Lapu City at 46 percent, Toledo at 44 percent, and Mandaue at 40 percent.

Province-wide, nearly four in ten Grade 1 to 3 learners are classified as struggling readers, highlighting the urgency of combined educational and nutritional interventions.(MyVCebu)