The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is pushing for a law to institutionalize its “Tara, Basa!” Tutoring program, aiming to ensure its long-term implementation and funding nationwide.

Undersecretary Edu Punay of the DSWD’s Innovations and Programs Development Group said the agency has already secured a legislative sponsor for the bill. 

He said the program, which supports poor college students while helping struggling young readers, is a key part of the department’s social protection efforts.

“Ang programa pong ito ay may executive order na mula sa Pangulo [President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.] para mas mapabilis ang implementation. Pero yes, tama kayo, para for the longer term, kailangan natin ng batas. Sa Tara, Basa!, nakahanap na kami ng sponsor para sa bill (This program already has an executive order from the President to speed up its implementation. But yes, you’re right, if we want it long-term, we need a law. For Tara, Basa!, we’ve already found a bill sponsor),” he said.

Per the agency, the program provides cash-for-work to 2nd to 4th year college students from low-income families, particularly those in education and social work courses. 

In exchange, they serve as tutors and youth development workers (YDWs) for struggling or non-reader elementary students, it added.

“Napakahalaga nito sa sustainability at yun ang target namin. Hopefully, maging sing-laki ng Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) ito eventually in the years to come (Sustainability is crucial, and that’s our goal. Hopefully, this program will grow to the scale of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in the years to come),” said Punay.

The DSWD said that each student renders 20 days of community service, leading reading and comprehension sessions for children and conducting learning and parenting sessions for parents and guardians.

Since its pilot launch in 2023, the program has reached over 350,000 beneficiaries, including young learners, their families, and college students. 

It is implemented in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd) and was declared a flagship program under Executive Order No. 76, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Nov. 22, 2024.

Punay said passing a law will guarantee the program’s continuity and expansion, particularly in areas where reading comprehension remains a serious concern.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), nearly 18.96 million Filipino junior and senior high school completers in 2024 are unable to read and comprehend a simple story.