BORACAY BRIDGE FATE UNCLEAR: Governor says it’s gone, bizman retorts ‘nope’

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

The fate of the proposed Boracay Bridge Project remained in dispute Wednesday after Aklan Gov. Jose Enrique “Joen” Miraflores said San Miguel Corp. Chair and CEO Ramon Ang had agreed to abandon the plan, while Ang later told another news outlet, “Not true,” when asked to confirm the governor’s announcement.

Miraflores said Ang verbally declared the scrapping of the PHP 7.78 billion project during a May 13 meeting at San Miguel’s corporate headquarters in Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City.

According to the governor, Ang acknowledged the growing opposition to the 2.54-kilometer bridge project.

“He knows that there is a strong opposition […] They saw what we did on social media. They really know our opposition here in Boracay and Aklan,” he said during a stakeholders’ meeting in Boracay Island.

“In the end, he agreed that he will no longer push through with the Boracay Bridge. He listens. Ramon Ang listens. And of course, it is not because of us, but you. Because of you. Because of the opposition made, the noise you made, all of you,” Miraflores emphasized.

Miraflores said Ang decided to drop the project to avoid “conflict” and to respect the sentiments of local stakeholders.

The governor described the development as a major victory for residents and groups opposed to the project, citing what he said could be irreversible effects on Boracay’s fragile environment.

“This is really a win for all of us. We are able to bring to his attention that we are not for this bridge. A lot will be affected, and there will be a lot of problems later on,” he stressed.

Miraflores said he hopes Ang will formally communicate the company’s position to the Department of Public Works and Highways to provide closure on the proposed project.

The DPWH awarded the project to San Miguel Holdings Corp., San Miguel’s infrastructure arm, through a notice of award issued March 30.

But in a report by GMA News Online Wednesday afternoon, Ang said, “Not true,” when asked to confirm Miraflores’ announcement that San Miguel Holdings Corp., San Miguel’s infrastructure arm, had agreed to withdraw the proposed bridge project.

The project was approved under a public-private partnership arrangement, with San Miguel Holdings expected to finance, design, construct, operate, and maintain the bridge.

The project involves an approximately 2.54-kilometer limited-access bridge system, access road infrastructure, and facility hubs on Boracay Island and mainland Caticlan, according to the Public-Private Partnership Center. It was proposed as a 30-year PPP project meant to provide all-weather access for vehicles and pedestrians, manage environmental carrying capacity, and ease overcrowding.

Earlier in April, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said San Miguel needed to address local concerns before the bridge moved forward.

He called the proposed bridge a “critical infrastructure project that we need to be built” but said concerns raised by residents and stakeholders must be resolved.

In the May 13 meeting, the governor was joined by Aklan 2nd District Rep. Florencio “Joeben” Miraflores, 1st District Rep. Jesus “Jess” Marquez, and Provincial Board Member Reynaldo “Boy” Quimpo.

Joeben Miraflores said concerns over the project were raised during a private lunch with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during a mass oath-taking of promoted teachers in Roxas City on April 27.

“The president himself asked about it. That was the opening we were waiting for, and we presented the opposition of the stakeholders,” he said.

“It was the president who said there should not be consultation. It cannot be. He was surprised. He was really surprised that there was no consultation, no resolution passed by Malay to support the project,” he added.

Following that meeting, Joeben Miraflores said they received communication from Ang’s legal counsel requesting a dialogue.

“We knew it came from the president. Ang himself said he received a call from the president that there was strong opposition, including concerns over loss of livelihoods for boatmen and reduced income in the province,” he said.

The project has drawn criticism from local groups, including the Caticlan-Boracay Transport Multi-Purpose Cooperative, which represents boatmen and operators who fear displacement if the bridge pushes through.

Environmental and church leaders have also raised concerns over the bridge’s effect on Boracay’s marine ecosystem.

In an interview with CBCP News, Aklan Bishop Cyril Villareal said the project “could damage Boracay’s fragile marine ecosystems, disrupt coral reefs and push the resort island beyond its environmental carrying capacity.”

With the bridge project’s status now contested, Miraflores said San Miguel could instead prioritize upgrades and modernization of Godofredo P. Ramos Airport, also known as Caticlan Airport.

San Miguel acquired a majority stake in Caticlan International Airport and Development Corp. in 2010 through San Miguel Holdings. The government earlier said the airport modernization project was valued at PHP 2.51 billion under a build-operate-transfer scheme.

The airport development plan includes phased upgrades such as terminal improvements, facility expansion, runway upgrades, and installation of navigational and air traffic control systems.

Earlier plans for the airport included extending the runway from about 900 meters to 2.1 kilometers to accommodate Airbus A320 aircraft and support increased tourist arrivals.

Marcos led the groundbreaking of the new Caticlan Passenger Terminal Building on July 14, 2025. The two-story terminal is expected to span 36,470 square meters, include six passenger boarding bridges and 36 check-in counters, and handle up to 7 million passengers annually once completed.

Megawide Construction Corp. secured the contract to design and build the new passenger terminal from Trans Aire Development Holdings Corp., a subsidiary of SMC Infrastructure.