Around 1,200 parents and guardians of student-beneficiaries of the Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) received their cash-for-work (CFW) during a payout at the Makati Elementary School on Friday (October 27).

In exchange for playing their significant roles as nanay-tatay teachers under the tutoring program, the parents and guardians are given a Php235 fee per session attended.

As nanay-tatay teachers, they are required to attend sessions that capacitate them in assisting their children in preparing their needs for learning and reading sessions as well as in their after-reading session homework.

Sherillyn Modrigo, a variety store vendor and a parent of the student-beneficiaries of the tutoring program, recognized the significance of the CFW payout as a supplementary income to support her family’s daily subsistence and children’s educational needs.

“Pandagdag din po sa negosyo dahil malaking tulong din ito. Dito rin po ako kumukuha ng baon sa pagtitinda,” Sherilyn emphasized.

(This can also help add up our business capital. Through this store, I was able to provide allowance to my children.)

Sherilyn explained that the Tara, Basa! Tutoring program has played a crucial role in enabling her to provide for her children’s educational expenses.

“Kaya po ako nagsusumikap sa Tara, Basa! para po may pandagdag sa allowance ng aking mga anak upang makapagtapos din sila,” she said.

(That’s why I strive to attend Tara, Basa! to have extra allowance for my children so they can finish their studies.)

Through her participation in the program, particularly her attendance to the sessions being facilitated by DSWD-trained college student-tutors, Sherilyn has also dedicated herself to imparting the knowledge gained during Tara, Basa! sessions to her children.

“Iyong mga session po na pinag-aaralan namin iyon din po ang tinuturo ko sa kanila,” she said.

(The sessions we are studying are the same ones I teach them.)

When asked about the improvement of her child, Sherilyn said: “Naging masipag po mag-aral, kasi po dati po hindi siya nagigising nang kusa. Ngayon po, kapag Tara, Basa! po talaga, nagigising po siya”.

(My child became diligent in studying. Previously, my child wouldn’t wake up on his own. Now, with Tara, Basa!, he really wakes up.)

“Lagi niyang sinasabi sa akin, ‘mama okay naman po ang Tara, Basa! kasi nagbabasa, nagsusulat.’ Lahat naman po ay nagagawa,” Sherilyn pointed out as she noted the sentiments of her child toward the program.

(My child always tells me, ‘Mom, Tara, Basa! is good because it teaches me how to read and write. It covers all.)

“Currently, nanay-tatay lessons and tutoring sessions are still being conducted in between payout activities,” Asst. Secretary for Strategic Communications Romel Lopez said.

The Tara, Basa! is the reformatted educational assistance program of the DSWD that gives cash payouts to college students for 20 days in exchange for being tutors or youth development workers and to parents who will attend the teaching sessions. #