Who’s Who in Bataan – GONZALO ALONZO BANTUGAN, Ph.D

GONZALO ALONZO BANTUGAN, Ph.D is a native of Ibaba, Bagac who became one of the acknowledged scientists of high caliber in the country. He specialized in the science of radioisotopes, radiation, gamma rays and radio activity measurements.

“Along” Bantugan was born in Bagac in 1929, the second of the four sons of Isabelo B. Bantugan of Bagac and the former Dominga R. Alonzo of Balanga. He is the younger brother of the late Judge Vivencio “Bebeng” Bantugan. He is married to Isabelle Mendoza with whom he has three children: Grace, Maria Pricilla (dec.) and Emanuel.

He enrolled at the University of Santo Tomas where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering in 1954.

He became a Colombo Plan recipient and was sent to Australia to pursue higher studies. While in Australia, he served as the first elected president of the Filipino Association of Victoria (1961-1962). After completing his masteral and doctorate degrees, he returned to Manila and joined the government service.

While working for the Philippine Atomic Energy Commission, he wrote several articles: “Radiation Survey Initial One Megawatt Power of the PRR-1” (1964) and “Radiation Measurement, Gamma Rays and Radio Activity Measurements” (1964).

In 1971, he was the project leader of the “Evaluation of Radioactive Waste Disposal into the Culiat Creek” (Quezon City), a project of the IAEA Advanced Regional Training Course on Radiological Health and Safety Measures for Countries in Asia and the Far East.

Along Bantugan is a lifetime member of the Radioisotopes Society of the Philippines and the DENR-Community Livelihood Assistance Special Program (CLASP) of the Philippine Coconut Authority,Department of Agriculture.

He was involved as top-rate consultant in the construction of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (1976-1983) and served as vice president of Environmental Science Management of the National Power Corporation and then,Napocor president in 1991.

Dr. Bantugan currently resides in Quezon City with his family.