Aklan mayors, biz group oppose Boracay bridge
ILOILO CITY—Mayors of Aklan province have expressed strong opposition to the impending construction of a bridge connecting Boracay Island to mainland Panay through Malay town, citing environmental, social and economic concerns.
In a resolution that was unanimously approved during its April 30 virtual meeting, the Aklan chapter of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP-Aklan) urged the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to reconsider the proposed project and ensure that all concerns are addressed before any action geared at construction is taken.
The DPWH had already given the green light for the P7.78-billion project through a notice of award signed by Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon in favor of San Miguel Holdings Corp. under a public-private partnership scheme.
Under the contract, San Miguel will undertake the financing, design, construction, operation and maintenance of the 2.54-kilometer bridge. On Tuesday, Palace press officer Claire Castro said that the DPWH was finalizing the contract for the bridge project.
According to the LMP-Aklan resolution, the proposed bridge raises concerns over possible disruption of coastal and marine ecosystems, including changes in water flow, impacts on coral reefs and fish habitats, and increased pressure on the island’s limited resources.
LMP-Aklan asserted that Boracay’s continued success as a major tourism destination “depends on careful management of its environment and resources.”
Lessons from 2018
The mayors cited lessons from Boracay’s 2018 rehabilitation, which highlighted the need to control development, enforce environmental laws, and respect the island’s carrying capacity.
They stressed that projects of such nature require a thorough environmental impact assessment and meaningful consultations with affected communities, as mandated under Presidential Decree No. 1586, or the Environmental Impact Statement System.
The resolution warned that the bridge project could trigger a significant increase in tourist arrivals beyond what Boracay can sustainably accommodate.
The mayors feared that with Boracay physically linked to Malay, those who make livelihood from the existing water transport system between Caticlan and Boracay, particularly boatmen, crew members and small operators dependent on daily trips, will lose their source of income.
“The construction of a bridge may reduce the demand for these services and directly affect the income of these workers and their families,” the resolution stated.
The league emphasized that while infrastructure development is important, it “should not come at the expense of the environment and the livelihood of local communities.”
Practical, sustainable infra
The group appealed to Dizon to reconsider the project and institute a proper consultation with local governments and sectors that may be affected by it.
Apart from Dizon, the resolution was also furnished President Marcos, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Department of Tourism, and the Department of Labor and Employment.
The resolution was certified by LMP-Aklan secretary and Ibajay Mayor Jose Miguel Miraflores and attested by LMP-Aklan president and Kalibo Mayor Juris Sucro.
The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Boracay (PCCI–Boracay) has also opposed the bridge project, urging government to instead prioritize more practical and sustainable infrastructure investments for the island.
In a position paper, the business group said it supports development and improved accessibility but stressed that any project must be “responsible, inclusive, and grounded in long-term sustainability,” particularly for a destination as ecologically sensitive as Boracay.
PCCI–Boracay said the island’s value lies not only in ease of access but in its preservation, warning that large-scale infrastructure could compromise its fragile coastal and marine ecosystems.
The group cited risks to coral reefs, shoreline integrity, and water circulation, as well as potential impacts on Boracay’s powdery white sand.
It also raised concerns about the island’s carrying capacity, noting that Boracay has already faced challenges linked to overdevelopment prior to its 2018 rehabilitation. Easier and unrestricted access through a bridge, it said, could intensify pressure on waste management systems, infrastructure, and natural resources.
Instead of the bridge, the group proposed directing investments toward priority areas that would deliver more immediate and sustainable benefits.
These include strengthening health-care and emergency response systems, improving environmental protection infrastructure, such as coastal defense and reef rehabilitation, enhancing port and jetty efficiency in Caticlan, and upgrading solid waste management systems.
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