PCS names Adamson IT official as
CIO of the Year

By Lawrence D. Casiraya, CW Reporter

A former teacher turned network administrator was chosen as this year’s Chief Information Officer (CIO) of the Year by the Philippine Computer Society (PCS), besting better-know luminaries from the government and private sector.

Ronaldo Tan, director of the Information Technology Center at Adamson University, was selected over more experienced CIOs Amiel A. Diaz of Dole Asia, Glenn L. Igual of United Coconut Planters Life Assurance Corp (Cocolife) and Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) deputy commissioner Lilia C. Guillermo.

As director of Adamson’s IT Center, Tan was responsible for planning the school’s entire IT development strategy which included the full automation of all university operations as well as for managing its entire network infrastructure.

Under his supervision, Adamson has automated its treasury and registration processes. The school is now planning to enable online enrollment via its website (www.adamson.edu.ph). Tan told reporters after the awarding ceremonies held at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) Conference Center in Makati City.

Smartcards
His eventual goal is to arm Adamson students with “smartcards” to pay for tuition and other school-related fees without using cash. The school is now working on tie-ups with banks like the Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co. and Philippine National Bank.

“It’s similar to those you see in food courts inside some buildings in Makati. Users just swipe their cards after they finish eating,” Tan said, noting that similar smartcard applications are being eyed for implementation within the Adamson University premises.

Tan is also the dean of the Department of Computer Science at Laguna College. He was also awarded the 2003 professorial chair in information technology by the Metrobank Foundation. He is also set to receive his doctorate degree from the Technological University of the Philippines (TUP).

He credits his experience in teaching as very helpful in making him aware of school requirements and student needs that can be addressed by technology. “I spent many years as a teacher before going into operations which is now my current position,” he said. “Learning the ins and outs of the academe has helped me recognized what is lacking.”

Aside from the PCS award, Tan has also won, for two consecutive years, the Certificate of Excellence given by CIO Asia, a regional magazine published by IDG Singapore.

The CIO of the Year Award is a premiere project of the Philippine Computer Society and is given to the CIO who has demonstrated excellence in implementing enterprise-wide information systems and applications. The award is given during the PCS’ annual IT Professionals’ Congress.

With CIO finalists