MEGA INFRA GETS FUNDS: PGN, Boracay Bridge, and ICAEX among DPWH’s priorities in W. Visayas

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

Mega infrastructure projects in Western Visayas are set to advance after the Department of Public Works and Highways earmarked new funding for the Panay–Guimaras–Negros bridges, the Iloilo–Capiz–Aklan Expressway, and the Boracay Bridge in its 2026 budget.

The allocations form part of the national government’s push to improve inter-island connectivity, reduce travel time, and support tourism and regional economic growth.

A total of PHP443.5 million was allocated as government counterpart funding for the 32.47-kilometer Panay–Guimaras–Negros Island Bridges project, a flagship inter-island initiative designed to significantly shorten sea and land travel.

The project is classified as foreign-assisted and is largely financed through concessional loans from South Korea’s Economic Development Cooperation Fund, administered by the Export-Import Bank of Korea.

Budget documents show the 2026 allocation will be charged to three DPWH budget items: PHP193.34 million for the main project, PHP171.23 million for Section A, and PHP78.94 million for Section B.

Section A covers the bridge linking Panay Island to Guimaras Island, while Section B spans the longer bridge connecting Guimaras to Negros Island.

The funds will serve as local counterpart support for capital outlays and infrastructure requirements tied to the foreign loans.

Alongside the Panay–Guimaras–Negros project, the DPWH also identified the Iloilo–Capiz–Aklan Expressway and the Boracay Bridge as priority public-private partnership projects in Western Visayas.

Public-private partnership-related expenditures in the DPWH’s 2026 budget were allocated PHP1 billion.

The PPP funding will be used for right-of-way acquisition and just compensation, land title transfer fees, feasibility and business case studies, hiring of transaction advisers and independent consultants, and reimbursements to the Project Development and Monitoring Facility Fund.

The Iloilo–Capiz–Aklan Expressway is a proposed 210-kilometer, four-lane, controlled-access toll road spanning Iloilo, Capiz, and Aklan provinces.

The expressway aims to link Leganes in Iloilo to Malay in Aklan, reducing travel time from Iloilo City to Boracay from six to seven hours to about 2.5 hours while easing congestion on existing roads.

The Boracay Bridge Project is a proposed 2.54-kilometer infrastructure link, including a 1.14-kilometer limited-access segment, connecting Boracay Island directly to Caticlan on mainland Aklan.

The bridge is intended to reduce reliance on ferries, improve tourism access, and support the delivery of utilities.

The project stems from an unsolicited proposal by San Miguel Holdings Corp., the infrastructure arm of San Miguel Corp., valued at PHP8.01 billion.

The Public-Private Partnership Center website shows the project remains under comparative challenge.

In its third supplemental bid bulletin, the DPWH informed prospective bidders that the bid submission deadline for comparative proposals was deferred to a later date pending finalization of the draft concession agreement.

The project faces strong opposition from the Aklan provincial government, the Malay local government, Ati indigenous groups, and boatmen cooperatives.

Opponents cite concerns over potential damage to coral reefs, seagrass beds, marine biodiversity, and tidal flows, as well as possible job losses for boat operators and the risk of over-tourism exceeding Boracay’s daily visitor cap.

Provincial and local officials also raised concerns over the lack of, or insufficient, public consultations conducted for the project.