CITY OF MALOLOS — The Province of Bulacan is in mourning following the unexpected passing on Thursday (July 13) of First District Board Member Felix “Toti” V. Ople, one of the most seasoned public servants and legislators of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
Ople’s public service spanned several decades as he became a one-termer councilor in 1995 to 1998 and a three-termer municipal mayor in the Municipality of Hagonoy from 1998-2007. He was honored as the Most Outstanding Mayor in the Gintong Kabataan Awards for his exemplary performance as a local chief executive in the years 2005, 2006 and 2007.
As a legislator, he made significant contributions as he notably authored and co-authored several ordinances positively impacting the development of the province. A few among them are Ordinance No. 2012-09, Resolution No. 098-T’12 or the ‘Panlalawigang Kautusan na Nagbabawal sa Paggamit ng Non-biodegradable (‘di-nabubulok) Plastic Bags, Styrofoam at mga Kauri nito bilang Packaging Materials sa Lalawigan ng Bulacan at Nagtatakda ng Kaparusahan sa Paglabag Nito’ and Ordinance No. 2012-01, Resolution No. 036-T’12 or the ‘2011 Tricycle Code of Bulacan’.
He actively participated as a member of the Provincial Peace and Order Council, Provincial Disaster Management Council and the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council. He was also the SP representative on the Emilio G. Perez Memorial Hospital Board. Ople is beloved by many Bulakenyos for his competence, quick wit, and kind demeanor.
Before Ople’s condition worsened, Governor Daniel R. Fernando paid him a visit to convey his care and sympathy to the board member and his family. Expressing his sorrow for BM Ople’s untimely demise, Fernando said, “Our province lost a good and compassionate leader, and I have lost a dear friend. He did not only serve as a colleague, siya rin ay naging isang mabuting katuwang at kaibigan, naging magandang halimbawa at inspirasyon hindi lamang sa kanyang pamilya kundi maging sa lahat ng mga nakapaligid sa kanya. Taos-puso po kaming nakikiramay sa mga naulila ni Bokal Toti.”
Ople’s remains lie at the Christ the King Parish Greenmeadows in Quezon City and will be brought home to his beloved hometown Hagonoy on Sunday, July 16, 2023. (UnliNews Online)
