9 students involved in Balbalan accident hospitalized, 1 to undergo surgery

Tabuk City, Kalinga – Ten of the 32 students who were involved in a road accident in Balantoy, Balbalan yesterday, February 11, were admitted at different hospitals, says Balbalan Mayor Almar Malannag.

The 32 learners were among the drum and lyre representatives of the Municipality of Balbalan at the Bodong Festival. They were being ferried by a jeepney hired by the Local Government Unit bound for Tabuk City when the vehicle lost brakes in Sitio Saleng, particularly at the curved portion of the road.

The driver, according to the police, made a quick maneuver, directing the vehicle to the right to avoid the ravine on the left side, causing the jeep to fall on its right. The incident caused injuries to more or less 20 of the students.

“…anya ngarud ta accident, haan ta ammu iti aksidente nu anya iti sumangpetan na. Diay curve nga diay, delikado nga talaga ngem iti mayat lang, awan iti natay ta diay iti pagdanagak. Ta nu nakita yu diay lugan nga nabaliktad, talaga adda ni Apo Diyos nga nangkita kadagitoy u-ubbing,” Malannag expressed.

In an interview with GURU Press Cordillera, Mayor Malannag informed that nine of the injured victims were admitted to different hospitals in Tabuk City – Kalinga Provincial Hospital, Almora General Hospital, and Holy Trinity Hospital. He added that one student was referred to the Saint Paul Hospital in Tuguegarao City because he sustained serious injuries needing surgery.

“Isu nga agpapakaasi ak nga nu adda iti maitulong kuma iti daduma nga kayat na nga tumulong i-through da lang iti LGU Balbalan,” the mayor appealed.

Mayor Malannag also took the time to appreciate the quick response of health personnel, medics, and the different LGUs in Kalinga who sent their ambulances, private individuals, and other authorities in Balbalan and the province.

 “Amin nga municipality tinmulong da iman, inbaon da amin dagiay ambulance da together kadagiay private vehicle nga nagluganan dagiay u-ubbing. Idi adda tayo KPH, nakita tayo iti concern da kadakami nga taga Balbalan, pati idiay Western Kalinga District Hospital ta isuda inmuna nag-first aid. Agpas-pasalamat kami iti amin nga tinmulong kadakami, ken iti concern yu kadakami nga taga Balbalan,” he conveyed.