Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian reiterated the DSWD’s commitment to supporting financially struggling college students through the cash-for-work (CFW) incentive of the Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program (TBTP).

“Ang mandate namin is matulungan ang mga nahihirapan nating kababayan. Ang paradigm natin [sa DSWD] is matulungan ‘yung mga nangangailangan na college students dahil sa kakulangan sa pinansyal [at] makagraduate. [Tutulungan sila] sa pamamagitan ng interbensyon na cash-for-work ng Tara, Basa program,” Secretary Gatchalian said in a media interview on Tuesday (June 2).

On the same day, the DSWD chief joined President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for the kick-off ceremony of the 2026 Brigada Eskwela in the National Capital Region (NCR) at the Kapitbahayan Elementary School in Navotas City.

President Marcos Jr. also observed the ongoing TBTP tutorial and parenting sessions in the school, with 12 Youth Development Workers (YDWs), 23 tutors, and 119 child learners with their parent-beneficiaries.

Secretary Gatchalian told reporters the initiative aligns with President Marcos Jr.’s directive for the DSWD to focus on development, aside from the welfare of the most vulnerable Filipino sectors.

Instead of providing outright cash grants, the program gives public state college students the opportunity to participate in nation building as TBTP tutors and YDWs.

“Ito ‘yung isang Development. Hindi ito outright na ayuda lang. Nagiging Cash-for-Work (CFW) siya o pinagta-trabahuhan nila. In that way, conditional ‘yung tulong pero may taya ka sa bayan,” Secretary Gatchalian pointed out.

Launched in 2023, the TBTP is a reformatted educational assistance program which aligns with the Marcos administration’s efforts to combat illiteracy in the country.

Implemented in collaboration with the Department of Education (DepEd), the TBTP hires struggling college students to teach incoming Grade 2 learners how to read and to guide parent-beneficiaries in adopting positive household practices.

The DSWD chief noted that TBTP beneficiaries have provided positive feedback since the program’s pilot implementation, demonstrating the effectiveness and benefits of the sessions.

“Maganda naman ‘yung response kapag kinakausap ang mismong mga stakeholders like teachers, parents, and students. Magkakaroon naman ito ng post-test at DepEd ang magpapatakbo nito. For the past couple of years, maganda ‘to. In fact, sumulat nga ang DepEd sa amin na sinasabi nila na sana ituloy natin [ang programa],” the DSWD chief told the media.

Secretary Gatchalian recalled that many college students who served as tutors and YDWs expressed deep gratitude to the DSWD for their TBTP experience.

Many of these graduates subsequently earned various academic distinctions, including Latin honors, and topped their respective licensure examinations.

“Kapag kinausap mo sila [tutors and YDWs] after the 20 days na tigtu-two hours, naging bonus na lang sa kanila yung sweldo. Parang mas naging price sa kanila yung na maging bahagi sila ng nation-building o pagtulong sa pagsolusyon sa problema ng ating bayan which is illiteracy,” Secretary Gatchalian said.

In its fourth year of implementation, the TBTP serves over 133,000 beneficiaries nationwide, including Grade 2 learners, parent-beneficiaries, and college students.

The Department schedules the 20-day tutorial sessions to run from May to September, depending on the preferred schedules of the beneficiaries in each participating region and the designated payout dates for the youth beneficiary-partners. (KB)