Boracay bridge contract advances despite growing Aklan opposition

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor and Joseph Bernard A. Marzan

The planned bridge linking mainland Aklan to Boracay Island is moving closer to implementation, with the national government confirming that contract finalization is underway despite mounting local opposition.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro confirmed the development during a May 5 press briefing, citing information from Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon.

Castro said the Ramon Ang-led San Miguel Corporation is committed to addressing concerns raised by local governments and stakeholders.

“SMC has committed that all issues and concerns of local governments and stakeholders will be heard and addressed. No one will be left behind, and all — tourists, residents, and workers in Aklan — will benefit,” she said.

The DPWH issued a notice of award to San Miguel Holdings Corp. on March 30 for the 2.54-kilometer bridge project connecting Boracay Island to mainland Aklan.

The project covers the financing, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of the bridge under a public-private partnership arrangement.

MAYORS OPPOSE

The contract finalization comes amid growing opposition from the Aklan provincial government, the local government of Malay, and several business groups that raised environmental and socioeconomic concerns.

On April 30, the League of Municipalities of the Philippines-Aklan joined the opposition through Resolution No. 03.

The resolution was unanimously approved by Aklan’s 17 mayors, urging the DPWH to reconsider the project’s implementation.

“The League respectfully requests (DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon) to reconsider the project and ensure that all environmental, social, and economic concerns are fully addressed before any further action is taken,” the resolution said.

The league warned that the bridge could alter coastal and marine ecosystems, including water flow patterns, coral reefs, and fish habitats, while increasing pressure on Boracay’s limited resources.

The resolution cited the need to carefully manage the island’s environment and resources as key to its long-term viability.

It noted the lessons from the island’s 2018 rehabilitation, when the national government temporarily closed Boracay to tourists for six months, citing environmental degradation from unregulated development and environmental violations.

The resolution cited Presidential Decree No. 1586, or the Environmental Impact Statement System, which would require a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment and meaningful public consultations for infrastructure projects.

Local officials also expressed concern that the bridge could increase tourist arrivals beyond sustainable levels and disrupt livelihoods tied to the existing water transport system between Caticlan and Boracay, particularly among boat operators and related workers.

“The construction of a bridge may reduce the demand for these services and directly affect the income of these workers and their families,” the mayors emphasized.

“While infrastructure development is important, it should not come at the expense of the environment and the livelihood of local communities,” they added.

Copies of the resolution were ordered furnished to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the DPWH, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Department of Tourism, the Department of Labor and Employment, the Provincial Government of Aklan, and the Municipality of Malay for appropriate action.