CEDAW/C/PHI/5-6 I.1. The present report represents the combined fifth and sixth reports of the Philippines on the implementation of the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (The Women’s Convention). It covers the period from the submission of the fourth report in December 1995 to December 2003. I.2. As in the past, this report benefited from the contributions of concerned government agencies and non-government organizations (NGOs). The National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW), the national machinery for the advancement of women in the country, constituted a technical committee and several subcommittees to facilitate the preparation of the report. A briefing on the Women’s Convention, its provisions and the UN Committee responsible for the monitoring of the Women’s Convention was organized for government and NGOs by the NCRFW in cooperation with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). Several technical meetings were conducted with government and NGOs for the preparation of the report. Finally, a government-NGO consultation workshop was held to validate the comprehensiveness, completeness and accuracy of the information and analyses presented in the report. A group of experts from government and NGOs also reviewed the draft report for its finalization. I.3. Following the format indicated in the new reporting guidelines on the Women’s Convention, the report consists of three parts: Part One contains responses to the concluding comments and recommendations made by the UN Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (UN CEDAW) on the fourth report submitted by the Philippine government. Part Two, the Summary, contains information updates on the Philippine political, social and economic situation including updates on the situation of Filipino women. This part also summarizes major policy and program developments that respond to women’s concerns and highlights remaining issues and obstacles to women’s full participation in development. Part Three provides specific information regarding the implementation of Articles 1 to 16 of the Women’s Convention. I.4. As a signatory, the Philippines is committed to implement the Convention as well as other international agreements to improve the situation of women worldwide, such as the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (PFA) and the Beijing Plus Five Outcome Document. This report thus covers updates on laws, policies, and programs that were put in place to address the problems and issues related to the various articles of the Convention and the relevant provisions of the Beijing declarations for the period from 2001 to 2003. I.5. The UN CEDAW is requested to refer to an appended list of references, acronyms, and tables used in the report. 13