Elmer Mercado

Experience

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  OIDCI

  Jan 2000 - Jan 2011

  Variou
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  League of Municipalities of the Philippines

  Jan 2004 - Jan 2010

  National Policy Advisor
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  Philippine-Australia Land Administration and Management Project 2

  Jul 2006 - Jun 2010

  Public Land Management and Advocacy Adviser

  Led and guided the Philippine government through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in the technical review, assessment and formulation of public land management issues and policy directions as inputs into the preparation of the 20-year Philippine Land Sector Strategic Framework Development Plan. Facilitated and coordinated field visits, interviews and technical discussion on public land issues and concerns such as tenurial instruments/claims, claims conflicts, management structures/regimes, enforcement/protection, fees, public-private sector access/utilisation, co-management/decentralisation, land classification/reclassification, land uses and allocations, etc in the forestry, protected area, ancestral lands, foreshore/coastal zone management, pasture/grazing lands, patrimonial/reservations, reclaimed lands, land classification/reclassification. Facilitated and participated in nationwide stakeholder workshops and discussions of proposed strategy and policy directions; presented and discussed emerging trends and strategic agenda in public land management to key national policy and decision-making bodies and agencies. Drafting of a national strategic policy framework for the country’s’ land resources management and sector development. Key Results: Adoption of Land Sector Development Framework Plan Show less

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  Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)

  Jul 2008 - Sept 2012

  Environmental Sustainability Advisor

  Provided technical advise to CIDA Mission in the Philippines on compliance and integration of environmental sustainability in all CIDA-funded projects and programmes in the Philippines; conducted regular field and project monitoring and evaluation of CIDA-funded projects on its integration of environmental sustainability in their workplans and activities and results/deliverables; supported CIDA-Ottawa and Mission officers on technical inputs and assessments on environmental issues and challenges affecting local communities and Philippine environment and natural resource management sector. Show less

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  Asian Development Bank

  Sept 2010 - Jul 2013

  Environmental Safeguards/Sustainability Advisor - ADB-TA-PPP-Philippines
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  GIZ-Environment and Natural Resources Development (ENRD) Programme

  Jun 2011 - Apr 2013

  Land Use Planning and Development Adviser

  Provided technical advise on land use policy and planning matters and supported national policy discussion on the National Land Use Act in the Philippine Congress; Conducted training and capacity building for GIZ-partner LGUs on integrated land use and zoning management based on an 'eco-systems' (ridge-to-reef) planning platform and climate change/disaster resilient physical development planning at both provincial and municipal levels.

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  SEARCA:ADB-TA-8111: Climate Resilience and Green Growth in the Upper Marikina River Basin

  Nov 2012 - Sept 2015

  Team Leader/Climate Resilience and Adaptation Planning Specialist

  Led in the stocktaking review and analysis of greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation, adaptation, and disaster risk-reduction initiatives in the upper Marikina river basin and assist stakeholders in mapping out a shared vision for a green growth; coordinated the team’s technical assessment and analysis of outputs, including baseline identification, assessment of vulnerabilities and impacts, climate change scenarios, and the selection and monitoring of the effectiveness of adaptation and mitigation measures, including economic analysis; led the preparation of a ‘green growth’ road map based on eco-town framework and identify climate change-related investments up to 2025; undertook consultations with key stakeholders—including LGU authorities, the private sector, and vulnerable communities—to validate climate change actions (e.g., renewable energy, energy efficiency, reforestation, low carbon transport, waste management, water conservation, flood control, disaster risk reduction, biodiversity protection, sustainable agriculture, and climate proofing of infrastructure); ensured effective implementation of 12 pilot climate change adaptation measures in the five (5) LGUs in Upper Marikina as part of its Ecotown Green Growth Road Map. Show less

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  Philippine B+WISER Program/USAID-Chemonics

  Apr 2013 - Aug 2014

  Development and Land Use Planning Specialist

  Led in the training and capacity building of local government units, community stakeholders and vulnerable groups in the adoption and implementation of the integrated ecosystems management (IEM) or ‘ridge-to-reef’ planning approach in seven (7) representative ecosystems/biodiversity landscapes in the Philippines. The approach takes the watershed (not the administrative boundaries of LGUs) as the basic planning unit and requires the collaboration not only among the LGUs within the watershed but also with other stakeholders.Provided integrated technical assistance, training and capacity building in science-based integrated land use, biodiversity conservation, climate and disaster resilience, and ecosystems policy reform, analysis, spatial and physical planning and management to key national and local implementing agencies/partner bodies. At the national level, provide expert advise and to relevant bureaus of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), particularly with the Forest Management Bureau (FMB) and Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB), as well as the Climate Change Commission (CCC) and Housing Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB) in the form of policy analysis, tools and methodology development, training and capacity building related to strengthening enabling frameworks to implement biodiversity conservation and forest management activities, and reduce GHG emissions and improving resource management operations, planning, and decision-making processes.At the subnational levels, within identified 7 priority landscapes sites, directly work and provide training and support to local resource management bodies such protected area management boards, watershed management councils, local government units to directly implement interventions to conserve or increase forest cover and conserve biodiversity and improve the ability of key natural resource managers and governance bodies to effectively conserve biodiversity and manage forest ecosystems. Show less

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  Global Affairs Canada | Affaires mondiales Canada

  Sept 2013 - now

  National Environmental Sustainability and Safeguards Advisor

  Monitor and ensure the compliance and consistency of all DFATD Canada-supported projects in the Philippines in the integration of environmental sustainability, disaster risk resiliency and risk mitigation in the implementation of its project activities as required by existing Canadian and Philippine environmental laws and safeguard guidelines; identified and developed environmental sustainability and resiliency monitoring indicators and results framework for DFATD Philippines Mission and projects in the Philippines; provided relevant, up-to-date information and inputs to DFATD Philippines Mission and DFATD-Ottawa on current directions and developments on environmental policies and strategies in the Philippines; represented DFATD Canada and liaise with other multi-lateral and bilateral donor agencies and national government bodies on national environmental and disaster risk management, programmes and policies; assisted the DFATD Mission and project implementers in the identification of potential partners, resource links and knowledge bases; conducted regular and special environmental reviews and assessments of other DFATD support projects and programmes; responded to specific queries and demands for environmental analysis and inputs to DFATD Mission and its projects. Show less

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  World Bank Office Manila

  Sept 2015 - Jun 2016

  Senior Land Management Specialist - Land Conflict in Mindanao WB-IOM Technical Support Team

  Part of the WB/IOM land conflict study team who will specifically conduct a case study of land conflict in the Municipalities of Wao, Lanao del Sur; Upi, Maguindanao; and Midsayap, North Cotabato, particularly focusing on the resilience of solutions offered to address local land conflict. The WB/IOM land conflict study team is part of the technical support provided by the WB/IOM to the Transitional Justice and Reconciliation Commission to the on-going peace process agreement between the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Show less

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  Climate Change Commission- TA for Ecotown Training Modules for LGUs Development and Pilot Training

  Nov 2015 - Sept 2016

  Team Leader and Climate Resilience and Adaptation Planning Specialist

  Lead in the development of training modules and guidance manuals for the Philippine’s Climate Change Commission (CCC) to serve as trainor’s training module and national roll-out programme to transfer knowledge and capacitate to key personnel from concerned national/regional government agencies, partner agencies and LGUs vis-à-vis understanding of ‘ecotown framework’, financial literacy on climate change, vulnerability/risk assessment and natural resources assessment; capacitate; develop knowledge and skills of key personnel from 150+ LGUs; develop four (4) training modules/manuals – ecotown module, trainor’s training module, decision-makers’ module, and LGU planners’ module; conduct pilot trainors’ training module for 103 potential trainors from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao; monitor the initial rollout of trainors’ training in other LGUs and target trainees. Show less

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  Climate Resilient Green Growth Planning in the Provinces of Palawan and Oriental Mindoro

  Feb 2016 - Jan 2017

  Team Leader and Climate Resilience and Green Growth Planning Specialist

  Lead and mobilize qualified experts (under a technical assistance programme of the Global Green Growth Institute and Philippine Climate Change Commission) train and assist local provincial and municipal staff and officials in formulating and adopting a science and evidence-based climate resilient (mitigation and adaptation) and green growth (CRGG) strategy in the Provinces of Palawan and Oriental Mindoro with the end view of helping them become more resilient to the impacts of climate change and pursue sustainable green growth activities in both provinces; facilitate the simultaneous implementation of local activities in the 2 provinces; Facilitate transfer of knowledge to the members of the PPT by engaging counterparts in concerned project activities, through various modalities (e.g. mentoring, coaching, etc.) such that lessons are institutionalized; conduct a general assessment of climate change vulnerability (i.e. GhG inventory, climate change impact vulnerability analysis, natural resource assessment and environment accounting) and socio-economic condition of the province using national, regional, and provincial information (e.g. Regional and Provincial climate change projections; PDPFP, Regional Development Plan, etc.); review of relevant initiatives undertaken within the province by the Government and other concerned institutions and identify, based on sound criteria, the appropriate climate mitigation and adaptation measures (i.e. policies, projects, etc.) to address the results of the climate profiling analysis Show less

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  Berkman International/Certeza Infosys/A2D Project Research Group (joint venture) and Cebu Province

  Dec 2016 - Nov 2017

  Team Leader/Project Manager: Mainstreaming DRRM-CCA in Cebu Province Local Governance, Phase 1

  Provide technical guidance and leadership to the project team specialists and support staff in the preparation and development of the Province-wide DRRM/CCA and contingency plans of 51 LGUs in the province and the province-level DRRM/CCA and contingency plan; lead in the review and analysis of the local DRRM and contingency plans of 51 Cebu LGUs and identify key gaps and recommendations to enhance and strengthen them; guide the team specialist in the development and conduct of training design and capacity-building modules to improve the technical capacity, knowledge and skills of key LGU local staffs of 51 Cebu LGUs, including provincial disaster risk reduction management office (PDRRMO) on climate resilience and disaster risk-based implementation plans, programmes and activities (PPAs) and contingency plans; and, lead in the conduct and implementation of training and skills development programme for 51 LGUs staff and officials on LDRRMP and contingency planning. Show less

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  Provincial Government of Agusan del Sur

  Jun 2017 - Feb 2018

  Lead Technical Resource Person, Agusan del Sur Provinc'l Dev't & Framework Planning 2018-2027

  Lead technical person in the formulation of a sustainable, inclusive, dynamic and resilient 10-year province-wide strategic dev't plan for Agusan del Sur; providing technical and analytical assitance and training to the province's planning office/staff and other relevant provincial office; and convergence/conplementation to PDP 2017-2022 and SDG 2050 goals.

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  DILG-DRMIS Project, Agence Francaise de Developpement/E-Gen and MapuaServe Consortia

  Oct 2017 - Aug 2018

  Deputy Team Leader

  DILG-Disaster Risk Management Institutional Strengthening (DRMIS) Project

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  The World Bank

  Nov 2017 - Jun 2024

  Senior Land Management Specialist

  WB Mission Project Team for Support to Parcellisation for Individual Land Titles (SPLIT) and Task Force Bangon Marawi Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Technical Assistance Team-Land Resource Management SubCommittee

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  Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH

  Jan 2020 - Jul 2020

  Team Leader/Land Management Expert

  Enhancement Philippine Land Sector Development Strategic Road Map 2019-2040

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  RTI International

  Jul 2020 - May 2022

  Governance Specialist-PhilippineSIBOL(Sustainable Interventions in Biodiversity,Oceans and Landscape
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  Asian Development Bank (ADB)

  Jul 2023 - Jun 2024

  Climate Resilience Specialist

  Climate change processing and implementation support under ADB REG Project No. 120863 -SAEN for South Asia Environment unit. Tasked to review and integrate climate change impact, mitigation and resilience considerations for proposed and ongoing ADB -funded critical infrastructures on energy and power sector in South Asia - India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, etc.