MANILA, Philippines — San Miguel Corp. (SMC) late Friday said that no final decision had been made to abandon the proposed P7.78-billion Boracay Bridge Project.
Aklan Gov. Jose Enrique Miraflores on Wednesday announced that the conglomerate had backed out of the project following a May 13 meeting with San Miguel Chairman and CEO Ramon Ang.
Subsequent reports, however, quoted Ang as saying the news was “not true.”
San Miguel blamed differing interpretations of the May 13 meeting, which it said was part of ongoing consultations regarding concerns raised by boat owners, transport groups, cooperatives, tricycle drivers, port workers and other stakeholders.
Issues discussed included possible livelihood displacement, existing boat modernization loans and changes to transport operations between Caticlan and Boracay.
San Miguel said Ang had told local officials that the company would not insist on pursuing the project if host communities did not support it.
The company said the bridge project could still be revisited in the future once concerns involving livelihoods, transport operations, accessibility and environmental safeguards were properly addressed.
San Miguel said it would continue engaging government agencies, cooperatives and local groups to study mitigation measures, transition support and livelihood programs.
The proposed bridge is intended to provide a controlled-access link between Caticlan and Boracay to improve the movement of goods, utilities, waste management services and emergency response operations.
SMC emphasized that the project was not meant to allow unrestricted vehicle access to Boracay, noting that vehicle use would remain subject to rules set by local and national authorities.
The company also said the bridge would not increase hotel capacity or alter existing environmental and carrying-capacity limits on the island.
Passenger boat operations through the jetty port are expected to continue, while the bridge would mainly support cargo movement, emergency access and essential services.
SMC added that the project could help lower logistics costs for residents and businesses on the island by improving the delivery of goods and supplies.
Boracay has around 40,000 permanent residents based on the 2020 Census of Population and Housing.
