Boracay Bridge Exempt from RDC Review

By Joseph Bernard A. Marzan

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will lead the 2.54-kilometer Boracay Bridge project, which will connect Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan, to mainland Panay without requiring a review by the Regional Development Council (RDC)-Western Visayas.

In a letter, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)-Western Visayas regional director and RDC vice-chairperson Arecio Casing Jr. cited Republic Act No. 11966 (Public-Private Partnership Code of the Philippines) as the basis for this exemption.

Section 24.3(c) of the law’s implementing rules and regulations (IRR) states that the head of the implementing agency can approve National Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects under PHP 15 billion, provided the agency does not have a governing board.

In this case, the DPWH serves as the implementing agency for the Boracay Bridge project.

The project’s page on the DPWH website lists the total cost of the San Miguel Holdings Corporation (SMHC) proposal at PHP 8.007 billion.

“Only Local PPP Projects where the implementing agency is a local government unit (LGU) or a Local University and College require RDC VI endorsement. The Boracay Bridge project is a National PPP Project,” Casing clarified in his letter.

Negotiations between the DPWH and SMHC concluded successfully on July 19, 2024, according to the project’s webpage, and the approval process is ongoing.

The DPWH opened an invitation for comparative proposals for the project on Jan. 31, according to the PPP Center.

The limited-access bridge will connect Boracay Island to the Aklan West Road in Malay and will feature access roads, facility hubs on both sides, commercial spaces for lease, and transport hubs for public utility and cargo vehicles.

Under the proposal, SMHC would operate the bridge for 30 years through a concession agreement if awarded the project.

The DPWH envisions the bridge to manage the environmental carrying capacity of the island, open up a new, all-weather access for vehicles and pedestrians, and free the island from pressures due to overcrowding and overuse of existing facilities.

OPPOSITION

The proposed 1.2-kilometer Boracay Bridge has met significant opposition from local stakeholders concerned about its potential impact on livelihoods and the environment.

Over 500 boatmen and 40 boat owners, represented by the Caticlan Boracay Transport Multi-Purpose Cooperative (CBTMPC), fear the bridge will render their ferry services obsolete, threatening their primary source of income.

The cooperative has invested nearly PHP 500 million in fiberglass boats as part of a government-mandated modernization program.

CBTMPC consultant Godofredo Sadiasa emphasized that these boats are not just businesses but vital means of livelihood for many families.

He also raised concerns about potential environmental damage, particularly to coral reefs and the marine ecosystem, due to the bridge’s construction.

In response to the proposed project, CBTMPC members organized a motorcade protest on October 10, 2024, to voice their concerns.

Local government officials have also expressed reservations. Aklan Governor Florencio Miraflores and Vice Governor Reynaldo Quimpo have opposed the project, citing potential negative impacts on businesses and essential services reliant on tourism.

They also highlighted the lack of proper consultation with local stakeholders and noted that the project violates a provincial ordinance enforcing a “one entry/exit policy” to protect the island’s tourism assets.

The Sangguniang Bayan of Malay, in a resolution dated October 10, stated that it had not received any formal proposal or application for the bridge’s construction.

The council assured the public that any infrastructure proposals would undergo stringent scrutiny and consultations.