Koronadal mayor, environmental champion, dies at 72
KORONADAL CITY—Mayor Eliordo Ogena, who shepherded the passage of an environment code banning open-pit mining in South Cotabato while he was vice governor, has passed away, the city government announced on Monday. He was 72.
In mourning the loss of the mayor, the city government flew the Philippine flag at half-mast.
“During his tenure, he wholeheartedly served our community through honest, humane and dedicated leadership,” the city government said in a statement. “He contributed significantly to the progress of our city and the welfare of the constituents. His legacy of public service, compassion and love for the city will forever inspire all of us,” it added.
Ogena, whose third term as mayor would have ended in June 2028, served in various elected positions for a total of 33 years.
Before becoming mayor, he was Koronadal City’s vice mayor for three terms, from 2010 to 2019, following three terms as vice governor of South Cotabato from 2001 to 2010.
As vice governor, he presided over the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) or provincial board, which deliberated for five years on the landmark environment code that included the ban on open-pit mining. The provincial board approved the code before their term ended on June 30, 2010.
Site inspections
In 2008, while the code was still under deliberation, Ogena led SP members on visits to various mining sites in the country to help them decide on the proposed ban.
“Our site inspections of mining projects, which will be shouldered by the provincial government, will allow us to decide what is in the greatest interest of the people of South Cotabato,” Ogena said at the time. “We want to see the situation firsthand in relation to our province … there’s actually pressure from both sides,” he added.
Born on Sept. 10, 1953, in Tantangan, South Cotabato, Ogena earned his Bachelor of Laws from the University of the Philippines Diliman. He completed a Master of Laws at the University of Santo Tomas, focusing on criminal and commercial law, and also holds a Master’s in Public Administration from the Notre Dame of Marbel University. Before entering politics, he served as a legal officer at the Social Security System.
After winning his third term as mayor in May 2025, Ogena was seldom seen at public events due to health reasons. The city government did not provide details on the cause of death as of 11:43 a.m. Monday.
Councilor Mark Lapidez, designated acting mayor by Ogena last Friday, said that even in his final days, the mayor was still thinking about what was best for the city and its constituents.
Under the rule of succession, Vice Mayor Erlinda Araquil will assume the mayoralty. Araquil will be replaced by Ma. Ester Catorce, the top-ranked councilor. Both officials are also local broadcast personalities. —WITH A REPORT FROM EDWIN O. FERNANDEZ
