MGB-12 suspends works in Tboli mine site after tunnel mishap

GENERAL SANTOS CITY--The Mines and Geosciences Bureau’s (MGB) office in the Soccsksargen region has temporarily suspended exploration work in a portion of a mining site in Tboli town, South Cotabato province following an accident on Monday that left a mine worker dead.    

Efren Carido, MGB 12 (Soccsksargen) director, said Thursday he ordered the suspension for at least one week of all activities in a mine tunnel area operated by foreign-backed firm, TMC Tribal Mining Corp., at the gold rush village of Kematu in Tboli.

Carido said the move was based on the recommendation of the bureau’s technical team that investigated the incident on Tuesday.

"We sustained the recommendation after the area was found to be dangerous (for the workers)," he said in a radio interview.

Based on the MGB investigation, Carido said three TMC workers were replacing the timber support with steel at a portion of the tunnel when it suddenly collapsed on Monday morning.

He said the workers immediately rushed out of the tunnel but one of them, 31-year-old George Man-a, was buried in rubble.

The victim, who hails from Baguio City, was later retrieved and brought to a nearby hospital, but was declared dead upon arrival by attending doctors.

Carido said that based on company records, it appears that the personnel followed mine safety protocols.

The site was also checked, as cited on record, by one of the company's safety inspectors before the workers were allowed to proceed with their shift.

"The area was found safe during the earlier shift so it's possible that the accident was caused by the rehabilitation works at the tunnel," he said.

Carido said he ordered TMC to immediately repair the collapsed tunnel and implement measures that would ensure the safety of the workers.

He assigned one of MGB's mining engineers to monitor the progress of the installation and construction of support structures at the affected tunnel.

The bureau will later evaluate the repair work to determine if it is safe to reopen the site, he said.

TMC is currently conducting explorations in Barangay Kematu and neighboring areas for its planned large-scale gold and silver mining project.

The company is a subsidiary of Rizal Resources Corp., which listed its headquarters in Vancouver, Canada. (PNA)