President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo lauded today the country’s school teachers "na nagbilang ng boto na walang kinikilingan" as she presided over the Department of Education’s command conference on the annual "Oplan Balik Eskwela" to ensure the smooth opening of classes.

The conference was held at the P. Burgos Elementary School along Altura St. in Sta. Mesa, Manila.

The President -- cool in maong pants, striped white polo shirt and open-toed blue and white heels – enthused that her administration is achieving its annual targets in education as she hopes for a 1:33 classroom-to-student ratio or 33 students/pupils per classroom.

Last year’s target was 1:50 classroom-to-student (CS) ratio, while this year’s target was 1:45 CS.

As for the number of classrooms nationwide, Education Secretary Jesli Lapus reported to the President that the present inventory of 417,789 classrooms is being beefed up with the "ongoing procurement" of 6,409 additional classrooms.

Aside from Lapus, among those who attended the conference were House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. and officials of the Departments of Health, Defense, Trade and Industry, Transportation, Public Works and Highways, and Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

During the same occasion, the President inspected the facilities of the P. Burgos Elementary School, distributed textbooks to PBES pupils, and witnessed the repainting and repair of school desks, tables and chairs by volunteers of the "Oplan Balik Eskwela 2007."

The DepEd’s inventory of books shows a total of 84.8 million books, with 12 million delivered last January. Some 11.9 million more books are now in the pipeline in "additional procurement," Lapus said.

The DepEd is targeting a 1:1 book-to-student ratio in every subject, starting with English, Mathematics and Science books which, at present, are "more than adequate." Books are updated/changed every five years.

This year, there will also be "sufficient" chairs for the country’s public elementary and high school students with the DepEd’s inventory of 14.92 million chairs. The delivery of an "additional procurement" of 2.4 million chairs is also being awaited.

Meanwhile, the DepEd assured the President that it is prioritizing the rehabilitation of classrooms in typhoon-stricken areas, and the implementation of the "universal medical and dental check" among students.

During the conference, the President called on school officials not to turn away any student for non-payment of contributions.

"Nobody should be turned away for non-payment," she said as Lapus reported that only four contributions are allowed by DepEd to be collected from students – the fees for the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, the Girl Scouts of the Philippines, the Red Cross and the Anti-TB Campaign.

The President also ordered the DepEd secretary to monitor the prices of school supplies.

Meanwhile, the DepEd said the now annual four-year-old Brigada Eskwela has been participated in by some 38,900 schools, or some 85 percent of all schools nationwide.

Started in 2003, the Brigada is the "annual nationwide voluntary effort of teachers, parents, students, community members and other organizations to do minor repairs in their schools in preparation for the opening of the school year."

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is embarking on a trip to New Zealand and Australia to expand trade, increase security cooperation and foster closer cultural relations.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo encouraged today pedicab drivers in Sta. Mesa, Manila to enroll in butchering and welding courses under the PGMA Training for Work Scholarship Project of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

The President made the suggestion during her informal interaction with officials of Barangay 581 at the Principal’s Office of the P. Burgos Elementary School along Altura St. in Sta. Mesa.

During the dialogue, the President was informed that most residents in the barangay earn a living as pedicab drivers.

The President said the training for high-paying jobs abroad like welding and butchering or slaughtering could be availed of via the 500 scholarship vouchers that are given to every barangay

The President also asked the barangay officials to tell the squatter residents in the area to consider relocating to the Calauan, Laguna resettlement site which collects low monthly amortization after a year of occupation. At least 125 families have been relocated to the site, with 30 of them former settlers around the Osmena Bridge in the barangay.

Row House 20 of the resettlement area collects only P1,450 in monthly amortization for a 20-square meter housing unit.

Some 30 families living along the sidewalk in the barangay, plus 60 families along Mangga Avenue, need to be relocated, according to Barangay Chairwoman Carmen Espino.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo leaves on Sunday afternoon for a four-day visit to New Zealand and Australia to further expand trade, increase security cooperation and foster closer cultural relations between the Philippines and those two countries.

Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said the President will discuss with New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark "a range of issues, including Interfaith Dialogue," a vital component of the peace process in Mindanao.

In Australia, the President will discuss with Prime Minister John Howard "issues that affect defense cooperation between our countries," Bunye said in a statement.

President Arroyo will be in New Zealand from May 28 to 30, during which she will also meet with the Filipino community there.

From Auckland, the President will proceed to Canberra for a state visit to Australia until May 31.