But in the 21st Century -- this is the Second Industrial Revolution -- the machinery needed for technical revolution have changed. The use of computers, cellular phones, fiber optics technology require a different set of skills to harness technology, more delicate, lighter touch and the kind of attention too detailed which have now made women indispensable to the high-tech industries all around the world. This where the skills of women are not only important but they will be indispensable to the revolution of the Second Industrial Revolution of the 21st Century.

The AFPPD Chairman Shin Sakurai and just now APDA Chairman Mr. Fukusaburo Maeda were correct in saying that Asia was the first to recognize the powerful role of parliamentarians In addressing population issues. The leadership of the Asian Forum was also instrumental in the formation of a Special Committee on Women -- the first among all regional parliamentarians associations, and the model for the rest of the world.

Let me then take this occasion to reiterate the call that the women parliamentarians made in this same venue last year that the AFPPD undertake a comparative inventory of the existing legislation in our respective countries on women's issues and on related issues like families and children, to serve as the guide in developing legislative priorities toward the empowerment of women in the context of population and development Issues.

It is about time perhaps that we developed within our organization a "Regional Gender Watch" Report which will serve to monitor how far we have come as countries and as a region, in ensuring that the mandates of Cairo and Beijing and of our own meetings are implemented through legislation and sufficient budgetary allocations which, after all, are within our power to give as parliamentarians.

The AFPPD Committee on Women asked the participants in the Manila Conference last year to send in their list of the AFPPD Bangkok office for appropriate action. Given the urgency of this initiatives, I should like to announce, as Chairperson of the Philippine Legislators' Committee on Population and Development that our Association here in the Philippines Is ready and willing to assist in whatever capacity, to ensure that this project is completed at the earliest time. I think this would also be a good addition or input to our proceedings on the World Summit on Food.

As elected representatives of our people, I believe it is also our duty to be able to bring the Manila Resolution to the grassroots level so that the common women, the women in the rural areas, the marginalized women will receive the good news that their women leaders are cognizant of their needs wherever they may be.

Finally, as we prepare for the food security summit this year, we likewise need to prepare a regional inventory of population and food security priorities with special emphasis on the role of women in agriculture, in the food processing Industry and in other related fields of food security to become a basis for the various national meetings which will culminate in the regional conference.

I am sure, however, that the value of this meeting was not only to come and deal with documentation but more importantly maybe to deepen our friendship with one another