I am a Project Manager under the Center for Strategic Futures (CSF) of the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) where I lead the implementation of the Academy’s projects on Smart and Creative Communities. This role exposed me to a range of project management duties as well as technical work relating to smart cities, spatial planning, and data analysis and visualization. Moreover, I work as a GIS specialist and planning assistant in the formulation of climate- and risk-sensitive development plans, such as the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) and Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP), including the conduct of Climate and Disaster Risk Assessment (CDRA), for various local government units (LGUs) in the Philippines. My five (5) years of full-time work experience and ten (10) years of exposure in planning for local governments allowed me to gain deeper appreciation on the role and importance of disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation in ensuring safe and disaster-resilient communities.