Relatives of four individuals who died in a mining accident in Barangay Runruno, Quezon, Nueva Vizcaya, receive financial aid from the Department of Social Welfare and Development on Wednesday, July 2. Each bereaved family was given P70,000 in assistance following the tragic incident that claimed the lives of three small-scale miners and one rescuer. (Photo courtesy of BLGU-Runruno/Barangay Captain John Babli-ing)
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Wednesday extended financial aid to the families of four individuals who died in a mining accident at Barangay Runruno, Quezon town, in this province.
Each bereaved family received P50,000 in cash and an additional P20,000 in financial assistance from the DSWD.
The victims include small-scale miners Daniel Segundo, 47; Florencio Indopia, 63; Lapihon Ayudan, 56; and rescuer John Philip Guinihid, who all died after being trapped in a mining hole filled with toxic gas and lacking oxygen.
Johnny Ayudan, who survived the incident but remains hospitalized, was also given P15,000. He is the brother of the late Lapihon Ayudan.
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Runruno village chief John Babli-ing said 68 local miners and rescuers who participated in the perilous retrieval operations were also given P3,000 each in recognition of their efforts.
“These miners displayed bravery and heroism, risking their lives to rescue their fellow miners who had difficulty breathing due to the toxic conditions inside the hole,” Babli-ing said.
The local government of Quezon town honored the rescuers for their courage during a simple tribute.
Personnel from mining firms FCF Minerals, OceanaGold, and Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company also assisted in the search and retrieval operations.
All the victims were recovered from depths ranging between 300 and 700 meters underground by midnight on June 26.
Two of the deceased were laid to rest on June 28, and a third was buried on July 2. The fourth victim’s remains were brought back to their hometown in Barangay Cudog, Lagawe, Ifugao. INQ/coa