At a press conference, DepEd Acting Secretary Dr. Fe Hidalgo said that the start of the school year was generally smooth despite complaints about shortages in classrooms, textbooks, desks, and chairs among others.

She said the education department is now determining the actual classroom shortage as instructed by President Arroyo.

Based on DepEd records, there is a classroom shortage of 6,832 for both public elementary and high schools for the Fiscal Year 2006. The records also showed that 2,600 new classrooms have been built this year.

By September, Hidalgo said that 1,800 more classrooms will be completed and 2,131 classrooms would be finished before the end of the year.

She said, however, that certain variables in schoolspecific situations may still cause shortages in certain areas such as population increase, migration or resettlement of families, and unsafe schools.

At the Batasan Hills Elementary School in Quezon City, Hidalgo said the pupils no longer hold classes in their gymnasium or in the stairways but inside the classrooms. The school has a population of 7,204. It used to be one of the most crowded public schools in the metropolis.

The situation at the Ramon Magsaysay High School in Manila has likewise improved, Hidalgo said. Even with its high enrollment of 6,800, there is no classroom shortage. Students are comfortably accommodated with 45-55 students per class per shift, she said.

The Ramon Magsaysay High School in Cubao, Quezon City has an opposite problem. The school has excess rooms. The once-crowded school now lacks 2,000 students based on its regular yearly enrollment of 7,000.

Hidalgo and other DepEd officials inspected the three schools to monitor the actual condition of students on the first day of classes.

Central Visayas DepEd Director Carolino Mordeno reported to Hidalgo via the SMART video-conferencing that they have not encountered any major problem on the first day of school.

Diamar Kadon, principal of Sta. Ana Elementary School in Davao City, likewise reported that their schools have conducted formal classes and have accommodated all students.

"We can’t say that the opening of classes went okay in all areas. There are obviously specific problems in specific schools. But generally, the start of classes was so well-organized," Hidalgo said.

Meanwhile, Senate President Franklin M. Drilon assured yesterday that the chamber will allot an additional R4.6 billion to the 2006 national budget to address the perennial problem of classroom shortage nationwide but will not fund the Arroyo administration’s move to open the 1987 Constitution for changes, including the holding of a plebiscite.

Drilon made the assurance after the bicameral committee on the 2006 national budget agreed in principle to increase the budget of the Department of Education for the construction of schoolbuildings nationwide.

"We fully endorse that (increase). The classroom shortage cannot be abolished by a simple change in the formula. There is a classroom shortage whether we like it or not. It is there," Drilon said.

The Arroyo administration needs about P4.6 billion for the construction of schoolbuildings nationwide to address the perennial problem of classroom shortage and meet the agency’s assumption of classroom-pupil ratio of 1:45.

The DepEd, which has proposed a budget of R110billion, reportedly needs an additional P9.18 billion to address the the backlog in classrooms, teachers, seats and textbooks nationwide, among others.

It has, however, allocated R5.86 billion to close the gaps of 41,197 classrooms, 10,517 teachers, 1.5 million seats, and 41.32 million textbooks nationwide although it estimates it needs an additional P22.88 billion to close all these gaps.

The Senate chief said that the Senate will source P4.6 billion from the P3billion "Kilos Asenso" Support Fund and the R3.69billion "Kalayaan Barangay" Program Fund that the Senate had scrapped from the 2006 R1.053-trillion budget.

"This Kilos Asenso fund is available. The Kalayaan fund is available. There is more than enough," Drilon said.

Educators laud PNP for its campaign to protect students

By JOEL C. ATENCIO

Educators yesterday hailed the Philippine National Police (PNP) for its relentless campaign to protect students nationwide.

Philippine National Association of School Securities Organization (PHILNASSO) president Jose Diño said "the PNP leadership did a good job in conducting anti-crime operations over the weekend and in putting up help desks in strategic areas nationwide."

Diño also praised Manila Mayor Lito Atienza on the cleanup of dormitories in the University Belt Area in Sampaloc, Manila, and for conducting disaster preparedness drill in city schools.

"This is the fruit of PHILNASSO’s continuous appeal to the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, PNP, and National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) advocating school safety," Diño said.

Transport groups cope with heavy influx of passengers

By E. T. SUAREZ

Tansport groups yesterday coped adequately with the heavy influx of passengers resulting from the return to classes of some 20 million students in public and private elementary and high schools nationwide after a two-month summer vacation.

The transport groups said they fielded all their available units to make sure the students will reach their schools in time.

The groups, led by the Tinig ng Organisadong Drayber at Operator sa Pilipinas (TODA Pilipinas), the Integrated Metro Bus Operators Association (IMBOA), and the Provincial Bus Operators Association of the Philippines (PBOAP), said they operated in full force, particularly during rush hours in the morning and in the afternoon.

They said that despite the heavy movement of vehicles carrying students and workers, traffic was manageable even in school areas.

The transport groups vowed to continue giving 20 percent discount to students and senior citizens.

Rep. Acmad M. Tomawis of Ang Laban ng Indiginong Filipino (ALIP) thanked the transport groups for extending 20 percent discounts to students and the elderly.

Arroyo welcomes Congress decision to increase DepEd budget

President Arroyo yesterday welcomed the decision of Congress to increase by R4 billion the proposed R108 billion budget for 2006 of the Department of Education (DepEd).

Mrs. Arroyo said the cooperation among all government institutions and among all sectors of society would "fix up the perennial problems of our education system."

"I thank Congress for increasing the budget of the DepEd, which will go a long way to boost our common efforts," Mrs. Arroyo said in a statement on the opening of classes yesterday.

The first meeting during the weekend of the bicameral conference committee on the General Appropriations Act of 2006 yielded a consensus between the Senate and the House of Representatives to increase the DepEd’s budget to address the shortage of school facilities and the declining quality of education in the country.

Mrs. Arroyo assured that the government is continuously working to address the problems in the country’s education system as she sought the help of all sectors of society in the government’s efforts in education.

"All hands are on deck with the opening of classes today, and the concerned agencies and departments have teamed up to ensure that the students are safe and ready to learn," Mrs. Arroyo said.

"It will indeed take time before we could fix up the perennial problems of our education system, but we will get there through the cooperation of all our institutions," she added.

Mrs. Arroyo sought the help of parents and teachers in the government’s efforts to provide world-class education to the millions of young students in the country.

"We remain on track in our goal of improving our educational system, but we can never discount the role of responsible parents and diligent teachers in guaranteeing a bright future for our children. Stable families and excellent teachers must combine with good schools, books and modern facilities to mold the Filipino youth into a strong player in the new millenium," the President said. (David Cagahastian)

Groups back increase in funds for education, pro-poor program

By ELLALYN B. DE VERA

Anti-poverty groups yesterday urged the House of Representatives to uphold the Senate’s earlier decision to slash the funds of the Office of the President and instead increase the allocation for health care and education.

The Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP), Social Watch-Philippines, Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC), and Education Network aired the call, saying that funding for regular services of departments "falls short in meeting the needs of the country’s poor."

GCAP national coordinator Marivic Raquiza said that under the Arroyo administration, the budget for basic social services has been declining, which has further worsened the plight of the Filipino poor.

Meanwhile, Malacañang’s budget has increased tremendously across the years with no real benefit to ordinary citizens, Raquiza added.

The group agreed with the Senate’s move to scrap the budget of the Office of the President, particularly for the Kilos Asenso Program and the Kalayaan Barangay Program, which the Senators considered as Malacanang’s new pork barrel funds.

University of the Philippines professor and Social Watch Philippines Chairwoman Leonor Briones said that the pro-poor programs of the Office of the President "lacked clear criteria in selecting beneficiaries and evaluating program performance."