Ms. Carmelita Laverinto (Philippines)
I am Carmelita Laverinto, and I am
from the Philippines. I am a certified
public accountant by profession. I
joined the government service in 2002,
when I took a position with the Officeof Civil Defense (OCD). At present, I
amworkingasaSpecial

Disbursing/Planning

andBudget

Officer in the OCD Regional Center 3(OCDR3), and thus myarea ofresponsibility is the Central Luzon Region. I am in charge of all financial transactions
relating to personnel services (PS), the maintenance of other operating expenses(MOOE), the quick response fund (QRF), and the trust fund (TF) of OCD Regional
Center 3.
In addition to my work, I provide assistance in the preparation and conduct of training
and seminars/workshops on disaster risk management and contingency planning, todifferent local government units (at the provincial, city, municipal, and barangay(neighborhood) levels) as well as the conduct of earthquake drills in schools. I also assist
in the coordination and conduct of Regional/Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council(R/PDCC) meetings and other activities relating to disaster management within myarea of responsibility.
The Philippines is considered to be one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world.
Its location makes it vulnerable to a variety of natural disasters. Lying along thewestern rim of the Pacific and along the circum-pacific seismic belt, it is subject tostorms, typhoons, earthquakes, floods, volcanic eruptions, droughts, and other naturalhazards. Disasters are a serious threat to both people and property, particularly in
densely populated areas. At least 60% of the total land area of the country is exposed tomultiple hazards, and as a result 74% of its population is vulnerable.
The Central Luzon Region is one of the most dynamic regions in the Philippines.
Located at a crossroads in the Asia-Pacific region, it serves as a gateway for Europeanand American enterprises wanting to penetrate Asia. Central Luzon contains thelargest plain in the country, earning it the name "the rice bowl of the Philippines." Theregion is comprised of seven provinces (Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija,Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales) with thirteen (13) cities and 116 municipalities.
Central Luzon is especially prone to typhoons and flooding.
The Office of Civil Defense Region 3 serves as the secretariat and operating arm of theRegional Disaster Coordinating Council in Central Luzon. It has the primary task ofcoordinating the activities and functions of various government agencies andorganizations, private institutions, and civic organizations at the regional level, for theprotection and preservation of life and property during emergencies.
The ADRC's Visiting Researcher (VR) Program is a great opportunity for conducting
research on disaster reduction. The sharing of information and experiences with fellow
ADRC member will give me an opportunity to help develop a strategic approach to thepromotion of safer communities. For these reasons and more, I am impressed with theprogram and I am delighted and honored to have been chosen to serve as a visiting
researcher. The experiences I have had during my stay have been tremendously helpful.
Japan has achieved an amazing level of development, and is implementing animpressive portfolio of mitigation and preparedness measures. Looking around, one canreadily see the care and commitment of Japan's local communities and government
agencies to protecting its environment, forests, water supply, air quality, andsurroundings. Japanese governance is impressive indeed. Japan's disaster risk
reduction plans, programs, development projects, and efforts to build a resilient
community are exemplary of good government leadership.
In this regard, I would like to express my deep gratitude to the government of Japanand the Asian Disaster Reduction Center (ADRC), both its management and staff, forall the support that has been extended to me and to the Philippines, and for allowing me
to have such a fruitful experience in Japan.
More information on Disaster Management of the Philippines:
http://www.adrc.asia/nationinformation.php?NationCode=608&Lang=en&NationNum=14