Miner hurt after tunnel collapses in Dalaguete

CEBU, Philippines - A miner was injured after the wall of a mining tunnel in Dalaguete town collapsed Monday morning.

Gillermo Beldiniza, 45, of Barangay Dumalan in the said town, sustained injuries to his left eye and left foot when the wall of the tunnel at Ibalong Resources and Development Corporation caved in.

It was not immediately known what caused the cave-in because the mining company has yet to submit an incident report.

In fact, personnel from the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and the members of the town police have to visit the mining site to verify the reported accident because there was no report from the company.

Junry Tenefrancia, MDRRMC staff, said they found out the accident happened Monday at 9 a.m. but it was only reported Wednesday. Tenefrancia said had they not verified the information relayed to them, the municipal government would not have known about it.

Tenefrancia said the victim was first rushed to Julio Cardinal Rosales Memorial Hospital in Dalaguete but was transferred to a private hospital in Cebu City.

Tenefrancia said the mining firm was already ordered to submit an incident report.

 “Og dili siya makahatag og incident report, possible naay sanction ang ipa-implement,” Tenefrancia said.

Ibalong Resources and Development Corporation is one of the two big mining corporations operating in Dalaguete. (FREEMAN)