Keynote Address
by
H.E. President Fidel V. Ramos

- A Test of Our Humanity -

Introduction

We of the Philippines feel proud and privileged to be hosting this very important meeting of Asian Parliamentarians.

There is no doubt in my mind that our concerns on population and its relation to development will define the nature and the direction of many other policies well into the next century.

They will be a test not only of our judgment and our will as leaders in government - but also of our humanity, of our fundamental belief in the dignity of human life.

This has long been a crucial concern in the Philippines, which has experienced a relatively high population growih rate, but where we have sought to resolve population issues within a democratic framework - a framework that recognizes and respects individual rights and beliefs enshrined in our constitution.

Population, Women and Food

Indeed, our population and development policies are integral to our political and economic growth as a nation. These are factors that we shall have to learn to reconcile and put to positive use.

Among of the major principles that Philippine democracy stands on is our firm commitment to enhancing the role of women in our society and insuring food security for our ever-expanding population.

We have drawn attention to these issues wherever and whenever we could, in various meetings around the world, You may also have heard of the lively debate that attended our preparations for the recent International Conference on Population and Development that took place in Manila.

Last year in Copenhagen, I reaffirmed our position on these concerns when I addressed the World Summit for Social Development.

We had stated that position earlier in Cairo, where we related population issues to the larger context of human development.