THE DEPARTMENT of Social Welfare and Development confirmed that more than 3,000 college students from the National Capital Region have received financial aid through its Tara, Basa! tutoring program.

DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao said the students worked as tutors and youth development workers (YDWs).

“They conducted reading sessions for struggling or non-reader elementary students, and held Nanay-Tatay Teacher sessions for parents and guardians of the elementary beneficiaries,” Dumlao explained.

A total of 500 students received their cash-for-work payout at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Valenzuela. Meanwhile, 2,857 tutors and YDWs from Mandaluyong, Pasig, Marikina, San Juan, Pasay, Navotas, and Quezon City received similar payments.

Each beneficiary, from 2nd to 4th-year college levels, received PHP12,480, equivalent to 20 reading or Nanay-Tatay Teacher sessions.

“The amount they received is based on the regional daily minimum wage rate—PHP610 per day from July 1 to 16, and PHP645 starting July 17 in NCR,” Dumlao added.

The Tara, Basa! program creates a learning ecosystem where college students are trained and deployed as tutors to improve the reading proficiency of struggling elementary students.