The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has started releasing the cash-for-work (CFW) of college tutors and Youth Development Workers (YDWs) under the agency’s Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program.

“We have started distributing the first tranche of the cash-for-work of our college tutors and YDWs as the opening of classes is also approaching. This way, our beneficiaries can use their earnings for their school needs,” Asst. Secretary Irene Dumlao, who is also the DSWD spokesperson, said.

First to conduct the payout was DSWD Field Office-7 (Central Visayas) which was held on Monday (July 15).

Asst. Secretary Dumlao said the current payout covers initial compensation for the first 10 sessions conducted by the program beneficiaries.

Each tutor and YDW received P468 per day for the 3-hour tutorial and parenting sessions  they have conducted with the grade school learners and their parents.

“Tutoring sessions started on July 1 simultaneously in the implementing regions,” the DSWD spokesperson said.

After the pilot implementation in the National Caputal Region (NCR) in 2023, the tutoring program is now in Regions 3 (Central Luzon), 7 (Central Visayas), 8 (Eastern Visayas), 10 (Northern Mindanao), 12 (SOCCSKSARGEN), and 4-A (CALABARZON),

“The rate of the CFW varies per region as it is based on the prevailing regional minimum wage rate,” Asst. Sec. Dumlao said

DSWD Central Visayas Regional Director Shalaine Marie Lucero led the ceremonial payout to 642 tutors and YDWs from the Cebu Normal University (CNU), along with the Cebu City Chairperson of the Committee on Social Services and the CNU College of Teachers Education Dean, Dr. Venus Cortes.

The tutoring activities will run until July 26 with the completion of 20 sessions.

“The Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program is the reformatted educational assistance of the DSWD.

This innovative project, under the leadership of Secretary Rex Gatchalian, is part of the DSWD’s ongoing efforts to enhance the educational support for college students coming from state or local universities and colleges and, at the same time, assist grade school learners who are struggling or non-readers,” Asst. Sec. Dumlao said. #