As an economist with a strong social conscience, Francis firmly believed  that one of the greatest services a society can render to the poor is to increase the quality of elementary and secondary school education that the children of the poor can attain in the public schools.  He made it his overriding mission to the make the most out of the limited budget that the Government can devote to quality public education.  As a practical business economist, he made sure that the increasing budget allocated for education under the Aquino Administration will be spent as cost efficiently as possible.   He was glad to observe the macroeconomic phenomenon that the percentage of the expenditures on public education as a percentage of GDP has been on the constant increase under the present Administration.  He made sure, however, that the larger budget would be spent as wisely as possible.  His target was always to achieve significant savings in every line budget.