Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva announced Wednesday that his government is to redouble efforts to improve security, health and education.

Brazil will allocate 6 billion reais (about 3.4 billion U.S. dollars) by 2010 to a major security program to combat crime, Lula said during the opening session of Congress.

Meanwhile, 12 billion reais (6.8 billion U.S. dollars) will be put aside for development in primary and secondary education during the same period and teachers will awarded pay increases, he said.

Efforts will also be made to boost healthcare for Brazilian people, said the president.

Lula took office in 2003 and was re-elected for another four-year term in 2006.