TACLOBAN CITY — The municipality of Silago in Southern Leyte has taken a pioneering step in boosting early-grade literacy after becoming the first local government unit (LGU) in Eastern Visayas to replicate the government’s “Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program” through a formal technology transfer agreement.
The milestone was sealed with the signing of a tripartite memorandum of agreement led by Mayor Lemuel Honor, signaling the town’s commitment to addressing learning gaps and strengthening foundational reading skills among young learners.
“Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program,” a flagship literacy initiative of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), was originally launched to help improve reading proficiency among children, particularly those affected by learning disruptions in recent years.
Its replication at the local level highlights growing efforts among LGUs to take a more active role in education support.
The Silago initiative brings together key institutions, including the Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office VIII, and Southern Leyte State University (SLSU), forming a collaborative framework aimed at enhancing literacy outcomes across communities.
As part of the program rollout, a capability-building training for tutors and youth development workers is set to begin on May 5, 2026, at the SLSU Hinunangan Campus. The training will prepare participants with the necessary tools and strategies to effectively deliver reading interventions.
The actual 20-day tutoring sessions will run from May 11 to June 5, 2026, targeting young learners in Silago and focusing on improving reading comprehension and foundational skills.
Local officials expressed hope that Silago’s initiative will serve as a model for other LGUs in Eastern Visayas, encouraging wider adoption of community-based literacy programs to address educational challenges at the grassroots level.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
