Model Context Protocol (MCP)

The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard that enables AI models (like Claude, GPT-4, or those within Cursor) to securely access local or remote tools and data.

GIS.ph provides a dedicated MCP server that allows your AI assistant to query geographical data, manage datasets, and search for locations in the Philippines directly within your chat or IDE.

Getting Started

To use the GIS.ph MCP server, you need a GIS.ph API Key. You can obtain one by contacting SPECTRUM GIS or through your GIS.ph dashboard.

Endpoint URL

The GIS.ph MCP server is available at: https://mcp.gis.ph/mcp?key=YOUR_API_KEY

Replace YOUR_API_KEY with your actual GIS.ph API key.

Integration Guides

Claude Desktop

To add GIS.ph to your Claude Desktop app:

1. Open your Claude configuration file (usually ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json on macOS or %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json on Windows).
2. Add the following to your mcpServers section:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "gis-ph": {
      "command": "curl",
      "args": ["-X", "POST", "https://mcp.gis.ph/mcp?key=YOUR_API_KEY"]
    }
  }
}

Note: Since the GIS.ph MCP server uses the HTTP transport (Streamable HTTP), you can connect to it directly as a remote server if your client supports it, or via a simple proxy/curl command.

Cursor / VS Code

In Cursor or IDEs supporting MCP:

1. Go to Settings -> Features -> MCP.
2. Click + Add New MCP Server.
3. Name: GIS.PH
4. Type: sse (or http if supported directly)
5. URL: https://mcp.gis.ph/mcp?key=YOUR_API_KEY

Available Tools

The MCP server exposes the following tools to the AI:

Location Data

• get_regions: List all 17 regions.
• get_provinces: List all 81 provinces.
• get_municities: List cities and municipalities (optionally filtered by province).
• get_barangays: List barangays (optionally filtered by city/municipality or province).
• get_region, get_province, get_municity, get_barangay: Get detailed info for a specific code.

Datasets & Features

• list_datasets: List all your datasets.
• get_dataset: Get metadata for a specific dataset.
• create_dataset: Create a new dataset.
• update_dataset: Update dataset metadata (name, description).
• list_features: List all features across datasets.
• get_feature: Get full GeoJSON for a specific feature.
• get_features_by_dataset: Retrieve all features belonging to a dataset.
• create_feature: Add a new GeoJSON feature to a dataset.

Why use MCP?

Instead of copy-pasting JSON data or manually searching for PSGC codes, you can simply ask your AI:

• “List all provinces in Region IV-A”
• “What is the population of Cebu City?”
• “Create a new dataset named ‘Health Facilities’ and add a point at these coordinates…”
• “Find all barangays in Quezon City.”

The AI will automatically use the appropriate GIS.ph tools to fetch the data and provide you with an answer.