DSWD reading tutoring program beneficiaries awarded cash aid
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has commenced the distribution of cash-for-work payments to college students who served as tutors and youth development workers (YDWs) under the “Tara, Basa!” tutoring program, as well as to the parents or guardians of children who benefited from the reading tutoring sessions.
DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao, the agency’s spokesperson, said the payments are in exchange for the reading tutoring and parenting sessions conducted with grade school learners and their parents.
As of Friday, Aug. 16, Dumlao said cash aid has been distributed to beneficiaries in Central Visayas, Soccsksargen, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
In Central Visayas, 444 tutors and 230 YDWs have received P9,360 each.
In BARMM, 210 tutors and 105 YDWs received P6,820 each, while in Soccsksargen, 216 tutors and 48 YDWs received P8,060 each.
She explained that these amounts cover the cost of 20 reading and parenting sessions based on the regional minimum wage rate.
Parents and guardians of elementary students from these regions also received cash assistance for attending “Nanay-Tatay” teacher sessions and helping with their children’s learning and reading assignments.
Dumlao said 7,709 parents and guardians of struggling and non-reader elementary students received P4,700 each for attending 20 Nanay-Tatay teacher sessions.
She added that payouts are ongoing in Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Eastern Visayas, and the National Capital Region.
The DSWD initiative is a “reformatted” educational assistance program designed to create a supportive learning environment by training college students from low-income families to become tutors and YDWs.