BUZZ BEAT MEDIA

The Department of Education (DepEd) is seeing promising early results from the pilot rollout of its Bawat Bata Makababasa Program (BBMP) in the Zamboanga Peninsula, which is a targeted reading program aimed at addressing low literacy levels among early-grade learners.

BBMP is also a direct response to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to improve learning outcomes. “It is imperative, therefore, that we acknowledge this massive challenge, determine the necessary steps, and prioritize the implementation of learning interventions,” the President said during the ceremonial signing of the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program Act last year.

Launched on May 8, the 20-day program focuses on non-readers from Grade 1 to 3, providing 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,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara said.

Building literacy in last-mile schools

Among the schools participating in the pilot is Campo Uno Indigenous People Elementary School, one of DepEd’s last-mile schools that serves learners from the Western Subanon Tribe. Many of the learners here, who previously struggled with basic reading, are now showing marked improvement.

“Ngayon, palagi na akong [naka] i-smile. Palagi na akong naglalaro. Kasi marunong naman [na] ako magbasa” Brittany, a Grade 3 student, shared.

Tribal leader Edgard Pandalan said the program’s impact reaches beyond literacy. 

“Reading programs like this help our children from our tribe better understand our culture. It also provides us with equal opportunities in life, especially for those of us who come from remote areas,” Pandala said in the local Subanon language.

From silence to confidence

At another site, 8-year-old Shammira, an incoming Grade 4 learner, has experienced her own transformation through the BBMP. Until recently, Shamira could not read. She recalled being ashamed of this fact, that she was afraid to speak up in class.

“Natatakot ako dati. [Kasi] hindi pa ako marunong magbasa,” Shammira recalled.

That changed through her participation in the program. After several weeks of daily reading sessions and workbook exercises, Shammira said that she can now read in English and short sentences with confidence. 

“Dahil po sa program, kaya ko na pong magbasa ng English at short sentences,” she shared. 

Her teacher confirmed an improvement in her reading ability, attributing the progress to the structured intervention and learner-friendly materials provided by BBMP.

“Naikwento rin sa akin ni Sham na masaya siya kasi ‘pag papasok siya sa school nababasa na niya yung mga nadadaanan niyang signages,” said Dulce Canones, Sham’s then teacher and now tutor.

A grandmother’s hope

The program is also making a difference for Inday, a 52-year-old school utility worker who is raising her grandchildren alone.

Despite her limited income, she ensures they attend the BBMP reading sessions every day, hoping to give them the opportunity she never had.

“I didn’t finish school, but I want them to so they would be more capable. Now that they’re learning to read, I feel more hopeful about their future,” Inday said in Bisaya.

Literacy as a shared responsibility

A defining feature of the BBMP is its community-based model. DepEd has mobilized nearly 7,000 trained volunteers in Region IX who lead daily reading sessions.

Tutors follow DepEd-developed lesson guides and ang phonics-based workbooks, enabling even non-teachers 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.

A broader learning recovery strategy

While the BBMP is showing early promise, DepEd emphasizes that this is only one part of a broader recovery plan.

“BBMP works best alongside efforts like the Literacy Remediation Program, Summer Academic Remedial Program, and 2025 Learning Camp. Together, they form a comprehensive strategy to help learners catch up, not just academically, but in life,” Angara said.

The Department is also currently consolidating performance data and field feedback to improve the program and assess its potential for nationwide rollout.

“The progress we’re seeing in Region IX 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,” Angara said. 

*All Photos from DepEd