Academician (Acd.) Leonardo Q. Liongson, a renowned Filipino expert in the field of hydrology, hydraulics and water resources engineering and management, flood control, lahar flow control and disaster mitigation joined his creator on April 5, 2017 at the age of 68.
The National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST, PHL), the country’s highest recognition and advisory body on issues concerning science and technology, joins the scientific community in mourning the demise of Acd. Liongson.
He has done most of his work in National Hydraulic Research Center (NHRC) projects for infrastructure development or for engineering operations. A very passionate man, his works made an impact not only on the local science and technology community but had made substantial benefits on Philippine society.
Acd. Liongson has done scholarly work in mathematics and computer modelling of fluid flow,written software for water resources management, built a database of groundwater resources for Metro Manila and the Laguna Lake basin, and studied historical aspects of Manila’s drainage system and the country’s physical infrastructure.
He was elected to the National Academy of Science and Technology Philippines as academician in 2007. He was appointed by the NAST PHL Executive Council as the Focal Person on Water Issues right after his election. He led the NAST activities pertaining to hydrology, hydraulics, flood mitigation and water resources engineering.
Acd. Liongson’s research achievements earned him significant awards, such as Professional Award in Engineering in 2004 by UP Alumni Association (UPAA), Outstanding Alumnus in Engineering Research by UP Alumni Engineers (UPAE) in 2000, and Achievement Award in the field of Engineering and Technology in 1998 from National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP). He was also a recipient of Gregorio Y. Zara Award in Water Resources, 1995, by the Philippine Association for the Advancement of Science (PHILAAS), UP Alumni Engineers Most Outstanding Teacher in 1994 by UP College of Engineering and UP Alumni Engineers Most Outstanding Researcher, UP College of Engineering in 1993, among others.
Born on 7 October 1948, Acd. Liongson obtained his BS Chemical Engineering magna cum laude (1969) and MS Engineering Sciences (Hydraulics) (1973) from the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman, and PhD Water Resources Administration/Hydrology (1976) from the University of Arizona, Tucson.
Necrological service was held last April 9, 2017 at St. Peter Chapels Commonwealth.