After the successful completion of the 2025 Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program implementation in Cebu, the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office 7 – Central Visayas has officially concluded the program with a Regional Culminating Activity held in the gymnasium of Cebu Technological University-Main Campus in Cebu City on September 19, 2025.

The event celebrated the program’s tangible and intangible achievements made possible through the collective efforts of DSWD, the Department of Education (DepEd) with its school’s division offices, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, partner local government units, state universities, local colleges, and program beneficiaries.

In her welcome message, DSWD 7 Regional Director Shalaine Marie S. Lucero, CESO III, expressed gratitude to all stakeholders and highlighted the impact of this year’s implementation.

“We will affirm the roles and responsibilities of each partner agency, and we would like to recognize them for making the program very successful in Region 7. In fact, I am happy to report that in 2025 we were able to help 1229 college students as tutors, 615 college students as youth development workers and most importantly, the parents, 5,761, equivalent to 5,761 learners,” Director Lucero announced.

With these accomplishments, the program served a total of 13,366 beneficiaries and released over Php 25 million in cash-for-work subsidies to tutors, youth development workers, and parents or guardians.

Keynote Speaker Dr. Salustiano T. Jimenez, JD, EdD, CESO III, DepEd Region 7 Director, emphasized the spirit of unity and collaboration behind the program’s success.

“Youth workers, teachers, and partners were standing united in this mission. Truly, we are stronger, and together we can ensure that every learner not only reads but thrives,” Dr. Jimenez said.

As a major partner, DepEd identified the incoming Grade 2 learners with reading challenges who qualified for the program.

Beyond tutoring, Tara, Basa! also facilitated Nanay-Tatay Teacher Sessions, where parents and guardians were equipped with effective teaching strategies, parenting techniques, and skills to support literacy at home.

One parent beneficiary, Haydee Keith Pejo of Basak Elementary School in Lapu-Lapu City, expressed her gratitude and shared her personal growth through the program.

“Nindot kaayo nga experience nga nahimo kong usa ka inahan nga naghatag og pagpakabana ngadto sa akong mga anak. At first, nagtuo ko nga ako rang bata ang klasehan, ug sa dihang apil man diay ming mga ginikanan. Nindot kaayo ang mga session kay didto nako na-evaluate ang akong pagka ginikanan. Daghan kaayo kog nakat-onan kung unsaon nato paghandle ang atong mga anak para sila mahimong better persons ug makaangkon og better future puhon,” she said. ###