The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office 7–Central Visayas has completed the distribution of participation incentives to parents and guardians under the Tara, Basa! Program. The payout took place from June 23 to July 1, 2026, across 12 partner local government units.
Incentives used for school supplies and basic needs
Many parents and guardians used the cash incentive to purchase school supplies, rice, and other household essentials. Grace, a parent from Alaska Elementary School in Cebu City, said the incentive helped her family buy school supplies they had not yet purchased before classes started. “Ang mabilin ipalit nakog pila ka kilo nga bugas, gamayng karne o isda ug utanon,” she said, explaining that the remaining amount would be used for daily food.
Several beneficiaries expressed that their priority was to buy school items and basic household needs to avoid additional expenses at the start of the new school year.
5,550 parent-beneficiaries in Central Visayas
In Central Visayas, a total of 5,550 parent and guardian beneficiaries were part of the program. Of these, 1,350 were from Cebu City, 1,101 from Lapu-Lapu City, 499 from Talisay City, 470 from Danao City, 450 from Toledo City, 300 from the City of Naga, 300 from Balamban, 300 from Medellin, 250 from Argao, 230 from Mandaue City, and 100 from Malabuyoc.
Qualified participants received up to P4,700
Each qualified participant received up to P4,700, equivalent to P235 per day for 20 days, provided they completed all sessions without absence. The beneficiaries are parents and guardians of students identified by the Department of Education as needing additional reading support. While the children attended daily tutorial sessions, their parents attended three-hour parenting sessions over 20 days.
The sessions were led by Youth Development Workers (YDWs) and focused on strengthening parent-child relationships, encouraging reading at home, and providing practical ways for parents to support their children’s learning.
About the Tara, Basa! Program
The Tara, Basa! Program is an initiative aimed at improving the reading literacy of students who need extra help, while also strengthening parental involvement in their children’s education and providing opportunities for college students to serve as tutors and Youth Development Workers in their communities.
