Barrio Dr. Eddie Dorotan, Galing Pook Hall of Famer, challenges Irosin dynasty (2025)

Barrio Doctor and Galing Pook Hall of Famer Eddie Dorotan.

At 68, and after surviving multiple angioplasties, Dr. Eddie Dorotan should be taking it slow—spending quiet days with his grandchildren and enjoying the peace he has earned from decades of service as a physician, mayor, and tireless advocate for public health and good governance

Instead, Dok Eddie, as he is fondly called, is coming out of retirement to run for mayor of Irosin, Sorsogon—unable to turn a blind eye to the growing poverty, neglect of public services, and return of old-style politics in his beloved hometown.

For the former two-term mayor and Gawad Galing Pook Hall of Famer, whatever time he has left—though he hopes to see his grandchildren grow up—is best spent serving others.

“I am not going back,” he said. “I am giving back.”

Dok Eddie first served Iroson as its mayor from 1992 to 1998, where he was credited for transforming a fifth-class municipality into a model of rural development. During his earlier terms, he pioneered award-winning programs in universal healthcare, sustainable agriculture, participatory budgeting, and peace-building. Under his leadership, Irosin’s poverty levels dropped and access to basic services improved dramatically. His administration’s success earned national acclaim, placing Irosin in the spotlight as a governance success story.

Dok Eddie later became Executive Director of the Galing Pook Foundation, where he mentored local government leaders across the country and institutionalized the promotion of best practices in service delivery. He also convened the Global Public Innovations Network, connecting breakthrough initiatives in health, education, and development from Latin America to Southeast Asia.

Dr. Eddie Dorotan checks on a patient.

Master in Public Administration

A physician by training, Dok Eddie graduated from the University of the Philippines College of Medicine and earned a Master in Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School. He has also served as chief of hospital, district health officer, and founder of LIKAS, a pioneering NGO focused on community-based health programs.

Despite undergoing multiple angioplasties, Dok remains energetic and determined. “I hit 110% of my max heart rate in my last stress test,” he said. “My heart is strong—and so is my will to serve.”

His decision to return to politics, he says, comes after witnessing a decline in governance in Irosin. “Too much poverty. Too much corruption. Too much patronage,” he said. “Irosin deserves better.”

He believes that his role is to rebuild the foundations of good governance and inspire a new generation of leaders.

“This is a transition. I’m here to restore what works, and then pass the baton,” he said.

Today, he serves as a governance consultant to USAID, The Asia Foundation, and the Australian Embassy, advising cities and provinces—especially in the Bangsamoro region—on leadership, conflict resolution, and health systems.

Respected figure

A respected figure in both local and international policy circles, Dok Eddie has held key roles such as Senior Fellow at Action for Economic Reforms, Board Member of PhilHealth from 2015 to 2019, and Convenor of the Covid-19 Action Network. He served on the National Immunization Technical Advisory Group during the pandemic, led the Global Public Innovation Network for over a decade, and sat on the National Selection Committee of the Galing Pook Awards. He has also taught governance and development at institutions like the Ateneo School of Government, the Asian Institute of Management, and the UP College of Medicine.

Throughout his career, Doc Eddie has received numerous accolades, including The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) Award for Community Development, the Ateneo Ozanam Award, the Konrad Adenauer Award for Local Governance, and recognition as an Outstanding Physician by the Philippine Medical Association. In 1996, he was named a finalist for The Outstanding Young Person in the World for Public Service.

If elected mayor, Dok Eddie vows to deliver honest, quality service and implement programs that promote sustainable agriculture, improve public education, stop destructive quarrying, and protect Irosin’s natural environment.

For Dok Eddie, the decision to run again is not about legacy—it’s about responsibility. Among his campaigns are against political dynasty, geothermal and destructive quarrying. “If I can still help make Irosin a better place,” he said, “then that’s how I want to use the rest of my life.”