participate in and benefit from development. The PPGD as it is called, takes over from the Philippine Development Plan for Women which was the predecessor of this Plan after the latter's mandate expired. The Plan's 30-year framework ensures that gender-friendly and gender-responsive policies can take root and flourish despite the barriers posed by traditional attitudes and stereotypes.

Secondly, I'd like to introduce the Women's Budget.

For any progressive policies and plans to be realized, these should be supported with appropriate budget allocations. The most reliable measure of government's political will to respond to women's concerns is how much its spends on them. As they say, "put your money where your mouth is."

In 1995 General Appropriations Act contained a provision which is Section 27 for, gender-responsive projects which was meant to facilitate agencies' access to funds for Gender and Development activities. So, an early assessment of how agencies have utilized this provision resulted in the publication entitled "Women's Budget: Philippines, 1995-l996. "

For this particular year, 1996, the General Appropriations Act, Section 27, states and may I quote:

"All departments, bureaus, offices and agencies shall set aside a minimum amount of 5 percent of their 1996 appropriations to be used for projects designed to address gender issues. The concerned departments, bureaus, offices and agencies shall submit reports to the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women through the Department of Budget and Management, indicating the amounts utilized to implement such gender-responsive projects and activities."

So, now 5 percent of the budget of our various agencies will be used for women.

Another mechanism which was, probably, much an earlier mechanism that was set up, proposed a couple of years before Beijing was Republic Act 7192 or the Women in Development and Nation-Building Act. This was, I feel, is a very important breakthrough legislation.

It ensures the fundamental equality of women and men which, of course, is enshrined in our Constitution, but legislation, really, is very supportive. This legislation supports that. It strengthens the mandate of the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women and legislates that a substantial portion of the official development assistance funds from foreign governments and multilateral agencies be allocated to support programs and activities for women.

Other mechanisms, perhaps, very quickly: