TACLOBAN CITY — Education officials in Eastern Visayas are expressing optimism that the “Tara, Basa!” program will help strengthen the reading and comprehension skills of struggling elementary pupils, particularly incoming Grade 2 learners identified under the initiative.
The program is a joint undertaking of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Education (DepEd), designed to address early-grade learning gaps through structured 20-day tutorial sessions focused on reading proficiency and comprehension.
In the region, around 5,000 incoming Grade 2 pupils have been identified to undergo the intervention. In Tacloban City alone, about 1,300 learners were selected from 23 public schools.
DepEd Regional Information Officer Jasmin Calzita said the program supports the department’s core mission of developing lifelong learners by strengthening foundational skills at an early age.
“Reading with comprehension skills is one of the foundational skills that needs to be established at a young age to build academic success,” Calzita said, stressing the importance of early intervention in literacy development.
Sto. Niño Elementary School Principal Lily Talagon also expressed optimism that the program will yield positive results, noting that this is the first time schools in Tacloban are implementing the initiative.
“I believe that the Tara Basa program is a very good program to help our struggling incoming Grade 2 learners not only learn how to read but also improve comprehension,” Talagon said.
About 20 incoming Grade 2 pupils from her school have been identified under the summer tutorial program.
Aside from pupils, the program also engages parents and guardians, who undergo sessions on life skills, responsible parenting, and strengthening relationships within the family. Officials said this component is aimed at reinforcing learning support at home.
To encourage participation, financially challenged families of selected pupils receive a total incentive of P4,700 after completing the 20-day program, while college student-tutors—mostly graduating students—are given P9,040 in compensation based on the prevailing daily wage rate.
The program began on April 20 and is scheduled to conclude on May 15. DepEd officials said they hope the initiative will help close early literacy gaps and improve long-term learning outcomes among young learners in the region.
JOEY A. GABIETA
