Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Romulo L. Neri (inset) addresses the audience at the Pearl Anniversary Celebration of the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW) held in Malacañang grounds recently. In his speech, Neri, who is Director General of the National Economic and Development Authority, expressed optimism over the growing support for the upliftment of Filipino women's lives. He also stressed the need to be more gender responsive in order to realize the goals of the 2004-2010 Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP).