1 week ago
5
THE Department of Education (DepEd) said that it is seeing "promising" early results from the pilot rollout in Zamboanga Peninsula of its "Bawat Bata Makakabasa" (BBM) program aimed at improving literacy levels among early-grade learners.
The 20-day program, launched on May 8, will focus on non-readers from Grades 1-3 and provide short, daily reading sessions designed to help learners recognize sounds, understand texts, and gain reading confidence.
"Through BBMP, we're already seeing how consistent, community-supported interventions can lead to real progress, especially for our most vulnerable learners," said Education Chief Sonny Angara.
At Campo Uno Indigenous People Elementary School, one of DepEd's last-mile schools that serve the Western Subanon tribe, learners who have previously struggled with basic reading have shown marked improvement.
Tribal leader Edgard Pandalan said that the program's impact reaches beyond literacy.
Get the latest news
delivered to your inbox
Sign up for The Manila Times newsletters
By signing up with an email address, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
"Reading programs like this help our children from our tribe understand better our culture. It also provides us with equal opportunities in life, especially for those of us who come from remote areas," said Pandalan, as quoted by the DepEd.
The BBMP program has mobilized nearly 7,000 volunteers to deliver structured literacy support.
"This program works because the entire community is involved. When children are supported not only by teachers but also by family members and local leaders, they become more motivated to learn," Angara said.
But Angara stressed that the BBM program would work best alongside other efforts such as the Literacy Remediation Program, Summer Academic Remedial Program, and 2025 Learning Camp.
Angara said that they are now consolidating performance data and field feedback to improve the program and assess its potential for a nationwide rollout
"The progress we're seeing in Region 9 shows that when reading becomes a shared responsibility, learners thrive. We owe it to every Filipino child to ensure they're not just in school, but truly learning," he added.
