SMC assures no job losses in Boracay bridge plan

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

Billionaire Ramon Ang–led San Miguel Corp. (SMC) said boatmen currently ferrying passengers from mainland Aklan to Boracay Island will not lose their jobs under its proposed 1.2-kilometer Boracay Bridge project.

SMC President Ramon Ang said boatmen would instead be retrained to operate hybrid vehicles as part of a shift toward more sustainable transport options.

“No boatman will lose their job,” Ang said during the groundbreaking of a new passenger terminal building at Caticlan Airport on Monday, July 14.

“Under our proposal, we will work with them, train them, and help them transition to driving a hybrid vehicle that will bring visitors across.”

Ang emphasized that boatmen remain essential to Boracay’s tourism experience and mobility, and the company is committed to protecting their livelihoods while offering more stable, long-term employment.

The Caticlan Boracay Transport Multi-Purpose Cooperative earlier reported that the bridge’s construction is expected to directly affect about 500 boatmen and 40 boat owners.

Ang defended the project as a necessary infrastructure upgrade in anticipation of increased tourist arrivals once the airport’s new two-story terminal becomes operational in 2027.

The new terminal is projected to handle up to 7 million passengers annually.

“As we prepare for the growth that this terminal will bring, we also need to think ahead, which is why we propose the Boracay Bridge—not to replace what’s already here, but to help support it,” he said.

He added that the bridge would help improve not only access to the island but also the transport of goods, supplies, and solid waste.

“The island generates thousands of tons of sewage a day,” Ang said.

“We all know how difficult it is to get that off the island quickly and safely. This bridge can help with that.”

The PHP8 billion bridge will be a limited-access structure designed to support public transport, pedestrian walkways, bikeways, and the movement of solid waste and cargo.

It will also accommodate utility lines for power, water, telecommunications, and sewerage, enhancing connectivity between the mainland and the island.

On June 19, the local government of Malay withdrew its support for the project by removing it from its Comprehensive Land Use Plan and Annual Investment Plan.

The removal poses a major challenge to the project’s proponents and highlights the need for broader stakeholder engagement and a reassessment of its environmental and social impacts before further development can proceed.