By Rachel Magday

 

NUEVA VIZCAYA, Philippines — The provincial government of Nueva Vizcaya has released P70,000 in educational assistance to seven college students who served as tutors under the Tara, Basa Tutoring Program in Villaverde, the first municipality in Cagayan Valley to implement the initiative.

Gov. Atty. Jose V. Gambito distributed checks worth P10,000 each to the student tutors as recognition of their service and to help them meet school-related expenses.

“We fully support the Tara, Basa Tutoring program it helps our children become better readers while giving our youth the opportunity to serve their communities and continue their studies,” Gambito said.

Jesusa P. Dyte, Social Welfare Officer IV of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) and focal person for the program, said the one-time grant was provided through the provincial government’s Project SHIFT, which supports households that have exited or graduated from the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, or 4Ps.

Dyte said the assistance forms part of the province’s counterpart contribution to the literacy program and is intended to encourage continued youth participation in community-based development activities.

The Tara, Basa Tutoring Program is implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region II in partnership with the municipal government of Villaverde and the Department of Education.

The program aims to improve the reading proficiency of public elementary school learners while providing temporary employment opportunities to economically disadvantaged college students and out-of-school youth.

According to Dyte, the seven recipients were among 25 college students from Villaverde who participated in the program as tutors and youth development workers. The incentives for the remaining 18 college students were provided by the municipal government of Villaverde as part of its counterpart support to the program.

Of the 25 participants, 13 served as tutors for 53 incoming Grade 2 pupils, while 12 worked as youth development workers who facilitated “Nanay-Tatay” sessions for the parents and guardians of the learners, who also received cash incentives from the DSWD for their participation in the program.

Dyte said the program not only addresses early-grade reading gaps but also provides young people with an opportunity to contribute to their communities while earning support for their education.

She added that the cash assistance seeks to recognize the contribution of the tutors, support their academic needs, strengthen partnerships among government agencies and local stakeholders, and sustain youth involvement in literacy and social development programs.