DSWD provides eyeglasses to tutoring program participants
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in partnership with the GT Foundation Inc. (GTFI), distributed free prescription eyeglasses to grade school student-beneficiaries of the “Tara, Basa!” tutoring program at the Bagong Silangan Elementary School (BSES) in Quezon City.
Thirty-two learners and 44 teachers and staff of BSES received free eyewear on Oct. 6.
DSWD Program Management Bureau (PMB) Director Maricel Deloria said the tutoring program includes free eye screening and prescription eyeglasses to ensure clear vision and high reading proficiency among grade school beneficiaries.
“Itong ating ginagawa, sa pakikipag-ugnayan sa GT Foundation, ay matutulungan tayo upang tayo ay patuloy na matuto at itong ating pagbibigay ng salamin ay hindi lamang pagbibigay ng liwanag sa inyong mga paningin ngunit pati na rin sa inyong kinabukasan (This activity, in cooperation with the GT Foundation, will help you [children] to continue to learn and the provision of prescription glasses will not only give you a clear vision but also a bright future),” Deloria said.
She also expressed DSWD’s gratitude to GTFI and emphasized the importance of collaboration between government and non-government organizations for achieving the objectives of every program.
“Itong araw na ito ay isa ring pruweba na kapag ang iba’t ibang ahensya ay nagsama-sama, patuloy nating nabibigay ang napakagandang serbisyo, hindi lamang ng gobyerno, maging ang ating partner organizations (This day serves as proof that when the government and partner organizations, work together, we can provide quality service to our beneficiaries),” she added.
The DSWD and GTFI also plan to expand the provision of eyeglasses under the foundation’s "Salamin sa Maliwanag na Bukas" program to other tutoring pilot areas.
The tutoring program is a social welfare initiative of the DSWD that empowers college students to serve as elementary reading tutors to struggling students.