MARAMAG, Bukidnon – A tragedy that began with a road accident involving Davao Oriental State University (DOrSU) students in Bukidnon has ended in heartbreak after one of the injured students succumbed to severe injuries despite days of intensive medical treatment.
DOrSU President Dr. Roy Ponce confirmed on Friday, July 18, that the student, who had remained in critical condition following the accident, passed away shortly after midnight while being treated at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) in Davao City.
“I am informed early today, that past 12 midnight, our student in critical condition did not make it despite medical attention and life support. DORSU will facilitate all the necessary things needed at this time. Continue to support us in prayers for the comfort of the bereaved family, friends, classmates and faculty in this difficult time. We submit to God’s sovereign will,” Ponce said.
The university president also told The Mindanao Sentinel that DOrSU will provide full funeral assistance to the bereaved family.
“Gi-facilitate namo tanan karon with the family,” Ponce said, assuring that the university remains committed to supporting the family during their time of grief.
The university community is now mourning the loss of a young life whose future was tragically cut short, as classmates, faculty members, parents, and friends continue to grapple with the devastating incident.
Intensive rescue and medical efforts
Immediately after the accident, DOrSU officials mobilized to assist the injured students and their families.
According to updates from Dr. Ponce, nine students had been admitted to different hospitals following the incident. Of these, five were eventually discharged, while three others remained under observation before being cleared by doctors.
The critically injured student was transferred from Bukidnon Provincial Hospital in Maramag to the Southern Philippines Medical Center through a high-care ambulance made possible with the assistance of Davao Oriental Governor Nelson Dayanghirang, Dr. Bersaldo, and other health officials.
The transfer was further supported by the team of Senator Bong Go and Board Member Don Montojo, who coordinated medical assistance upon the student’s arrival at SPMC.
On July 17, Dr. Ponce personally confirmed that the student had successfully survived the nearly two-hour high-care ambulance transport and was immediately attended to by medical specialists upon arrival.
Despite continuous life-saving interventions and intensive care, the student later passed away.
University clarifies misinformation
As the incident drew widespread public attention, Dr. Ponce also corrected circulating misinformation regarding the circumstances of the accident.
He clarified that the students were not traveling from the DOrSU campus in Davao Oriental to Bukidnon, contrary to some social media claims.
Instead, the students had just completed an On-the-Job Training (OJT) presentation activity in Maramag and were traveling from their training site back to their boarding house when they decided to hitch a ride aboard the truck amid heavy rainfall.
According to the university president, the students may have opted to hitchhike because public transportation was limited during the downpour or to reduce transportation expenses.
Review of OJT safety policies
While extending full support to the victims and their families, Dr. Ponce emphasized that the university is determined to learn from the tragedy.
He said DOrSU will conduct a comprehensive review of its existing safety protocols governing student On-the-Job Training (OJT) activities to help prevent similar incidents in the future.
“This will inform policy for refinement on safety measures in future On-the-Job Training (OJT). After all this, we will have a review and a full incident report that will be tackled by the Board of Regents on July 24,” he said.
The planned review is expected to examine transport safety guidelines, risk management procedures, coordination with host institutions, and emergency response mechanisms involving students deployed outside the university.
The accident
The fatal incident occurred on the evening of July 15 along the national highway near the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Musuan area in Barangay Dologon, Maramag, Bukidnon.
Police said around 55 students reportedly hitched a ride aboard an Isuzu Elf truck after leaving the Dairy Area inside the Central Mindanao University campus.
While negotiating a curved section of the highway, investigators said the truck’s right-side cargo panel allegedly malfunctioned after its locking mechanism gave way, causing the side railing to swing open.
Because several students had been leaning against the side of the truck, six of them—two males and four females—were thrown onto the concrete pavement.
They were immediately rushed to hospitals for treatment.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident, including the mechanical condition of the vehicle and possible violations of transport safety regulations.
A community in mourning
The death of the student has transformed what was initially a serious road accident into a profound tragedy for the DOrSU community.
Messages of sympathy and prayers have poured in from students, alumni, faculty members, local officials, and the public, many expressing condolences to the grieving family and solidarity with the injured students who continue to recover.
The university’s swift response—from immediately coordinating with parents, personally monitoring the victims, facilitating emergency medical transfers, committing to shoulder allowable medical expenses, providing full funeral assistance, and initiating a policy review—has been widely recognized as an important demonstration of institutional accountability during a time of crisis.
As investigations continue, the tragedy also serves as a painful reminder of the dangers of riding in cargo vehicles not intended for passenger transport and underscores the need for stronger transport safety measures to protect students during academic activities conducted away from campus.
The Mindanao Sentinel extends its deepest sympathies to the bereaved family, classmates, friends, and the entire Davao Oriental State University community. May the departed student rest in eternal peace, and may comfort and healing be granted to everyone affected by this heartbreaking loss.