Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian said the agency is ready to collaborate with the Department of Education (DepEd) to support its learning programs aimed at reducing illiteracy in the Philippines, following the completion of the pilot implementation of the “Tara, Basa!” tutoring program.
He said that Pasig Rep. Roman Romulo is supportive of the agency's plan to partner with DepEd to promote literacy.
“As Congressman Roman mentioned, all the reforms are there, and we just want to convey to the Department of Education that in any of those reforms where you may need the Department because you know that we have a bit of financial capacity to incentivize beneficiaries, please do not hesitate to ask because we are ready to partner with all your learning programs,” Gatchalian said during the culminating activity for the tutoring program on Dec. 18.
“We would not be able to launch this Metro Manila-wide pilot if it weren’t for the support of DepEd. So, thank you very much. This shows the whole-of-the-government approach that our president always advocates. Although education is not within our core competency, that's DepEd's domain, we can support your mission to eradicate illiteracy in our country,” he added.
Through reading and parenting workshops, the DSWD was able to support 31,234 elementary students who were struggling or were non-readers, as well as 31,207 parents and guardians.
The DSWD also gave 6,101 low-income second- to fourth-year college students from select state universities and colleges and local government-run universities in Metro Manila cash-for-work in exchange for their services.
“We wanted to reformulate our education assistance program, but we needed the technical expertise of DepEd because, as you know, we are in the field of social welfare and development, and education is your core competency. However, we wanted to make sure that the assistance we provide to college graduates has conditions aligned with nation-building,” Gatchalian said.
He reiterated that the DSWD will continue the tutoring program in Metro Manila and expand it to the neighboring regions.
The agency is also providing capacity building to local government units interested in launching the tutoring program in their respective areas using the DSWD template.