Town drum and lyre competition contingent for Kalinga festival hurt in vehicular mishap

BAGUIO CITY (February 12, 2025) -- Eight grade 11 students, 5 grade 9, four each from grade 7,8,12, one grade 10, a teacher, two two trainors, the jeepney driver and two more jeep helpers were all rushed to the hospital Tuesday after the jeepney they rode to attend Kalinga province’s 30^th Founding Anniversary rolled on its side at sitio Salen, Balannay, Balbalan town.

The victims are mostly contingent of Balbalan town, who are the defending champions of the drum and lyre competition of the “Bodong Festival” being held this week in Tabuk City, the province’s capital. One victim was even rushed to a private hospital in Tuguegarao City in Cagayan because of a head injury, authorities said.

According to accident investigators, the jeepney was at the middle of a three-vehicle convoy ferrying contingents for the drum and lyre competition and upon reaching a bend, the jeepney suffered a braking mechanism malfunction.

Though the driver did not panic, he turned the wheel to the right then rammed into a higher ground prompting it to tumble on its side, probers found out.

Probers added that good thing it rolled on the safe side of the mountain highway, otherwise it could have dived into a ravine. Balbalan town officials led by Mayor Almar Malannag vowed to aid the victims in their hospital expenses.