Balik Scientist GIS Expert Dr. Alejandro Tongco Back in SLSU

The Department of Science and Technology Balik-Scientist Dr. Alejandro Tongco who was in Southern Leyte State University (SLSU) in May-June 2014, is back in SLSU, this time as a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) consultant for SLSU’s Marine Biodiversity Management research program, which is funded by the Commission on Higher Education, and which runs from August 2014 to February 2016.

The Oklahoma State University – Department of Agricultural Economics Research Specialist undertook trainings on GIS and GIS-engaged proposals for SLSU’s faculty and staff in May last year. He also met with Department of Education provincial officials at and officials from the governor’s office in June, to promote GIS in school management and government planning.

In an interview for SLSU’s radio program SLSU Hour, Tongco said he had just resigned from Oklahoma State University, to give time to the Marine Biodiversity program and the promotion of GIS in Southern Leyte. “But GIS is my advocacy. This is also the reason why I built and maintain the Philippine GIS Data Clearinghouse website (www.philgis.org) with my personal funds in order to provide free Philippine GIS data for the use of all.”

I encourage all the LGUs to learn GIS because it maximizes any data you want to look into, thus minimizing error in decision making, said Tongco.

Tongco arrived in SLSU on January 12, 2015. He holds office at the Research, Development and Extension (RDE) office at SLSU. Interested parties may reach Tongco through the RDE telefax 053-382-3264 or Tongco’s email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Tongco has a solid background in mechanical and agricultural engineering and earned his doctorate in General Engineering from Oklahoma State University. He also served as a GIS consultant for some private companies in the United States.

CRASH COURSE. Dr. Tongco talks on the importance of GIS in the vernacular in a recorded interview on Jan. 20,  for listeners of SLSU Hour over radio DYSL 104.7.