ILOILO CITY — San Miguel Corp. has decided to abandon the proposed P7.78-billion Boracay Bridge project following sustained opposition from local officials, transport groups and residents, Aklan Gov. Jose Enrique Milafrores said on Wednesday.
Miraflores announced the development, which he said was reached during discussions with San Miguel officials earlier this month, during a stakeholders’ meeting in Boracay on Wednesday.
San Miguel officials were not immediately available for comment.
The proposed 2.54-kilometer bridge was intended to link Boracay Island to the mainland municipality of Malay, Aklan, but drew criticism over its possible environmental impact and effects on local livelihoods.
Miraflores said concerns were raised over the possible displacement of tricycle drivers and boat operators at the Caticlan Jetty Port as well as the long-term implications of the project on the island’s ecosystem.
“They see what’s happening on social media, and they are fully aware of the opposition here in Boracay and Aklan,” he said.
The governor said the concerns were directly conveyed to San Miguel Chairman Ramon Ang during a meeting at the company’s headquarters in Mandaluyong City on May 13.
“In the end, he agreed not to continue the Boracay Bridge. He listens. Ramon Ang listens. And of course, not just because of us, but because of all of you and the opposition that was expressed,” Miraflores said.
He described the company’s decision as a victory for the community, saying it reflected the collective effort of residents and stakeholders who voiced their concerns over the project.
Miraflores added that San Miguel also expressed its desire to avoid conflict with the local community and respect the sentiments of people in Boracay and Aklan despite its continued support for infrastructure development in the area.
While the bridge proposal has been dropped, San Miguel will continue pursuing the modernization and expansion of Godofredo P. Ramos Airport to improve connectivity and support tourism growth in the province.
Miraflores said he now hoped Ang would formally communicate its decision to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), which awarded the project to San Miguel Holdings Corp., the infrastructure arm of San Miguel, on March 30.
San Miguel Holdings submitted its unsolicited proposal for the bridge project in 2018. It was granted original proponent status in May 2021 and won the project after no one submitted a contesting offer during a Swiss challenge.
The infrastructure unit was supposed to finance, design, construct, operate and maintain the bridge under a 30-year concession.
The proposed bridge, which was backed by the DPWH, was supposed to serve as an all-weather access route for vehicles and pedestrians reducing reliance on boat travel.
