Boracay Bridge Threatens Livelihoods of 500 Families

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

While the proposed Boracay bridge promises easier access to the world-renowned island, it also threatens the livelihood of around 500 boatmen and 40 boat owners who currently operate ferry services.

Godofredo Sadiasa, a consultant for the Caticlan Boracay Transport Multi-Purpose Cooperative (CBTMPC), said the 1.2-kilometer Boracay bridge, to be built by San Miguel Holdings Corporation (SMC), would render these ferry services obsolete once completed.

“We don’t treat these boats as businesses; they are our means of livelihood,” Sadiasa said in an interview with Radyo Todo Aklan.

Sadiasa added that CBTMPC has outstanding bank debts from government-mandated boat modernization. The cooperative invested in 48 fiberglass boats, each costing between PHP 8 million and PHP 10 million, totaling nearly PHP 500 million.

In 2021, CBTMPC had to replace its wooden-hulled passenger boats with fiber-reinforced plastic boats after the termination of their Certificate of Public Convenience. These new boats cost between PHP 6.4 million and PHP 10 million each.

MOUNTING OPPOSITION

On October 10, CBTMPC members held a motorcade in protest of the bridge’s construction during the celebration of National Cooperative Month.

Boatmen criticized the government for mandating boat modernization to prevent job losses, only to support a project that now threatens their livelihoods.

CBTMPC has reached out to Aklan Vice Governor Reynaldo Quimpo, who expressed his opposition to the bridge and revealed that the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) is preparing a position paper against the project.

Quimpo, in a Facebook post, cited a 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 vice governor emphasized that the sea transport sector, which invested over PHP 368 million in modernization, will be severely impacted. He added that the province stands to lose around PHP 990,000 in daily revenues, or PHP 361 million annually.

Besides the boatmen, 166 porters servicing the jetty ports could also lose their income due to the project.

NO FORMAL PROPOSAL YET

In an October 10 resolution, the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) of Malay stated that it had not received any formal proposal or application for the bridge’s construction.

SB Malay assured the public that all infrastructure proposals will undergo a thorough evaluation, including consultations with stakeholders.

The Boracay bridge is part of the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) PHP 4.6 billion Public-Private Partnership (PPP) budget for 2025. Negotiations with SMC concluded in July 2024, and the project’s approval is ongoing.

The PHP 8 billion project involves building a two-lane bridge with provisions for bike lanes and sidewalks.

According to DPWH, the bridge is intended to facilitate the movement of commuters, goods, and supplies, rather than vehicular through-traffic.

Once completed, the bridge is expected to help manage Boracay’s environmental carrying capacity and ease overcrowding.