Mining tour - Balatoc Mines

 We have our school excursions in Balatoc Mines tour in the year February 2006. All I can say is that a great experience for us students.  We are required to go here for school paper. BalatocMines is about 30-40 minutes ride from Baguio City proper, passing though steep and narrow roads. In Ilocano dialect, they call it “Balitok” meaning gold. This mine used to be the largest in Cordillera, established by Benguet Corporation. Baguio City is reputed as the pioneer of the first mining operation in the Philippines. It was in 1997, that the company launched eco-tourism offerings, with its main objective to share the gold mining heritage in Cordillera.

old  PABX at the museum

PABX

The Balatoc Mines Touris the first show mine on the Philippines and thus said to be one of the most unique attractions. The mine was operated by the Benguet Corporation for eight decades. Now it is closed except for some minor activities by some locals who still mine in a most primitive way. The mine site once had nine main levels and nine sublevels. The entrance of the mine is at 600m asl, the lowest level is at -425m, 1,025m below the entrance. Access to the lower levels was provided by a mine-shaft. 

Milling process for golds

The mine visit is planned to resemble the daily life of the miners, so it starts with the reception of round-metal-sheet called chapa. They serve as an ID to the miners, everyone has one and takes it into a box when entering the mine. When coming back the miner collects his chapa again. Every day after the shift, the foreman checks the box and issues a search if chapas remain in the box. In case of an accident it is possible to count the plates and determine how many are still in the mine. 

at the back of the tunnel

Stones with gold are being displayed here

Mine visitors are equipped with boots and a hard hat, and then enter the mine on a mine train but we actually walk to see every corner of the cave. Inside ex-miners show the visitors how tunnels are dug and reinforced. I don't really know if they are using electricity inside the cave. Hehehehe. A sample simulated explosion was done to show to all of us. The tour also explains the mucking and the transport of gold bearing ore to the surfaces. Finally there is the old furnace where the ore is melted and poured out into molds.

Beneath the underground tour there is a fine museum about local gold mining and mining techniques. Gold bars called bullions and company memorabilia are shown here. The mineral collection shows specimens of various ores, some so high grade you can see beads of gold lining the white limestone rock.

Balatoc Mines Machinery

old fire extinguisher

Bridge going to the mine.."Eman, why are you so lonely"...hehehe!

How to go here:

Public: To get there take an Acupan–Balatoc jeepney (P28, 40 minutes) from Harrison Road near the Burnham Hotel.

Private: Upon departure from Session Road, you must go straight to the Loakan Road. From there, continue until you go past the main entrance of Camp John Hay. Continue until you reach the Philippine Military Academy or PMA. Then after PMA, take a left turn at the Kias junction and head on to Balatoc.