Donna Mercado

About

For over a decade, I have worked on strengthening community resilience, sustainable development, and climate-adaptive planning in the Philippines' public sector.

I am a Licensed Environmental Planner with experience in regional development planning, land use and physical framework planning, disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM), climate change adaptation and mitigation (CCAM), post-disaster rehabilitation and recovery, and economic development planning.

I served for over seven years at the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Region IV-A (CALABARZON), where I supported regional planning, policy development, disaster recovery, climate resilience, and multi-stakeholder coordination initiatives. During this period, I worked closely with national and regional government agencies, local government units, academia, civil society organizations, and private sector stakeholders to advance sustainable and inclusive development outcomes.

Throughout my career, i have contributed to the preparation and review of development plans, recovery program, policy recommendations, and planning frameworks related to climate resilience, environmental governance, social development, and sustainable development.

After completing my Master's degree in Public Affairs major in Strategic Planning and Policy Studies from the University of the Philippines Los Baños, I continued professional development in environmental planning, sustainability, and data-informed decision-making while maintaining a cross-border lifestyle between Hong Kong and the Philippines.

Today, I remain passionate on climate resilience, disaster risk reduction, sustainable development, environmental planning, and opportunities that contribute to long-term environmental and social impact.