(1994), social development in Copenhagen (1995), and late last year in Beijing, on women' s empowerment.

In all these conferences, the unique role of parliamentarians in formulating public policies, acting as spokespersons for various issues, and allocating resources through the national budget, has been recognized, and commitments made to work for the implementation of the agreed upon programs of action.

I am sure that you have noticed that we in the Philippine Senate and members of the House of Representatives have actively participated in these conferences in various capacities, and tried our best to put these new initiatives in our legislative agenda upon our return. The list of luminaries in the global parliamentarians movement is long and illustrious. We hope we can include some leaders of the Philippine Congress, like our Senate President Protempore Senator Leticia Ramos Shahani, and Congresswoman Teresa Aquino-Oreta to this distinguished list.

These roles, we must all acknowledge, change when we take into consideration the political system and executive-legislative relations in each country. But like the case of the Philippines where we have forged a partnership between the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives, and between Congress and the Executive, I am sure such of you have found a way to translate these commitments into action.

My colleagues in the parliamentary movement, the population and development issues confronting our countries, and our region, are multifarious and urgent. This 12th Asian Meeting of Parliamentarians on Population and Development is the latest milestone in our quest to ensure that our people, and our region, get the quality of life they truly deserve. I am happy and proud to be associated with this conference, and I look forward to the discussion of issues, and forging of consensus today and tomorrow. In behalf of the Philippine Senate, I welcome you to the Philippines and thank you for your committed advocacy to population management.

Thank you and mabuhay!