‘Death trap’ mine tunnel sealed to prevent tragedy

Dexter A. See

ITOGON, Benguet — The entry points of the "death trap tunnel" of Benguet Corp. in its Antamok gold field here where 16 miners were trapped when typhoon "Nina" hit the Cordillera were sealed and are now heavily guarded to prevent private miners from entering the area.

This was confirmed by Engineer Felizardo Gacad of the mine safety division of the Cordillera office of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau.

Gacad said the mining firm told concerned government agencies that no pocket miners will be able to get inside the controversial tunnel.

Ten of the 16 trapped miners miraculously survived one of the worst accidents in the history of mining in the Cordillera. They were rescued after over one week of ordeal inside the dark and flooded tunnel where the six others died.

It was learned that even before the incident, executives of the mining firm had said that the entry points of the tunnel had already been sealed with concrete and steel bars. However, the gates were allegedly forced open by pocket miners to gain entry.

During the search and rescue operations, provincial officials said that it would be better if the tunnels remain flooded to prevent pocket miners from getting inside.

Earlier, Benguet Corp. was asked earlier to come out with stringent safety policy before negotiating with private groups on the conduct of mining operations in its mining concessions.

But the company and the group of miners failed to reach a compromise last June on continued operation of the contract pocket miners in its mining areas after both parties insisted on their stand on the production sharing arrangement.

The company was insisting on a 60-40 production sharing agreement because it is the prevailing scheme in its other mining areas in this town. The group of pocket miners insisted on a 90-10 production sharing deal.

During the series of dialogues and consultations, the company reportedly went as low as a 80-20 sharing scheme but the miners stood firm on their proposal. This reportedly forced the company to seal the entry and exit points of the tunnel.

It was learned that under an earlier agreement, the company allowed the pocket miners to operate up to Level 400 because the lower levels of 500 until 700 are considered to be extremely dangerous due to the presence of poisonous gasses.