Boracay bridge plan draws stronger Aklan SP protest

By Joseph Bernard A. Marzan

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Aklan on Wednesday, April 15, passed two resolutions, in relation to its strong opposition to the Boracay Bridge project connecting Boracay Island in Malay town with mainland Panay Island.

In its regular session, Board Member and former vice governor Reynaldo Quimpo passed a resolution denouncing the DPWH’s award to San Miguel Corporation, despite vocal opposition from the provincial and municipal governments and private groups.

They had already passed two similar resolutions reiterating their opposition to the development of the bridge project during this term, including SP Resolution No. 193 on October 8, 2025, and SP Resolution No. 588 just last April 8, 2026.

Fellow board member Bob Augusto Legaspi also put forward a related motion, to request pertinent documents regarding the proposal, bidding, and negotiations for the bridge project from the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center.

Legaspi explained during the session that because the project had been awarded, and is protected by Republic Act No. 11966 (Public-Private Partnership Code of the Philippines), pointing out the discrepancies between their initial proposal and approved plan would be key to pursuing legal means to stop the bridge from happening.

“We only have a limited number of options as to how to oppose the said project because PPP Projects are protected by the PPP Code. […] One of the bases of possible opposition to this project would be the discrepancies in the proposal, bidding, and award process of the project,” Legaspi said during the session.

Legaspi also mentioned that he had spoken to lawyer Jude Mangilog, president of the Aklan Chapter of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, saying that the chapter had expressed interest in helping the Sangguniang Panlalawigan on the legal matters in opposing the bridge.