Protecting Boracay
The plan to build a bridge connecting Boracay island to Caticlan in the mainland town of Malay, Aklan, has been greenlit by the government, but the local community has raised red flags ahead of its implementation.
Last March, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) issued a notice of award (NOA) to San Miguel Holdings Corp. (SMHC) for the financing, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of the P7.78 billion project under a public-private partnership (PPP).
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said the company has yet to submit an application for an environmental compliance certificate (ECC). While the ECC is not required before the issuance of an NOA, which technically initiates the contracting process, it is a mandatory document necessary before any construction can begin.
SMHC made the “unsolicited proposal” for the bridge project in April 2018, around the time that then President Rodrigo Duterte approved Boracay’s closure for rehabilitation.
The island’s six-month closure, an environmentally sound decision Duterte had made compared to the dolomite beach, was meant to address environmental degradation and pollution caused by over-tourism that had turned the island into a “cesspool” due to uncontrolled development.
Delicate coral reefs
According to the project information memorandum uploaded on the Public-Private Partnership Center of the Philippines website in March last year, or a month after the DPWH opened the bidding for the project, the bridge construction aims to “manage environmental carrying capacity” and “free-up Boracay Island from overcrowding and overuse of existing facilities.” The 2.54-kilometer project will connect Caticlan, Malay to Boracay Island via a 1.14-km bridge with lanes for vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists.
The project, however, has alarmed the local community, which fears that it would damage the island’s delicate coral reefs and the broader marine ecosystem—the foundation of its appeal and economy.
Stakeholders, from the indigenous community, workers, business groups to local officials, have all expressed opposition to the project.
In 2024, boatmen and operators belonging to the Caticlan-Boracay Transport Multi-Purpose Cooperative said they feared the loss of their livelihood and the burden of paying loans amounting to almost P500 million to invest in fiberglass boats to comply with government-mandated modernization rules, but will no longer be useful once a bridge exists.
More sustainable alternatives
Last February, the nonprofit and multisectoral group Boracay Foundation Inc. wrote to President Marcos conveying concerns that the project could significantly alter Boracay’s natural landscape and strain its fragile ecosystem. It also raised possible negative effects on local livelihoods and small businesses.
The Malay municipal government and the Aklan provincial board have passed separate resolutions, with the latter strongly calling out the DPWH for awarding the project despite public opposition from various sectors.
The League of Municipalities of the Philippines–Aklan warned that the bridge could trigger a surge in tourist arrivals beyond what Boracay can sustainably support, potentially straining waste management systems, infrastructure, and natural resources. It called for a comprehensive ECC and meaningful consultation with affected communities.
The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry–Boracay has urged the government to consider more sustainable alternatives and reminded the government that infrastructure projects must remain “responsible, inclusive, and grounded in long-term sustainability.”
In response, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said these concerns must be addressed by SMHC, whose chair and CEO, Ramon Ang, has committed to discussing them with the local government.
Submission of an ECC
Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna recently said that any decision on the bridge project will not be made unless public consultations with local communities have been conducted, and their comments and inputs have been taken into consideration. It is only right to hear the side of local stakeholders, who consider it their home and who will bear the direct impact on the island’s economy and environment.
While there is no doubt that the construction of this bridge could boost development and improve accessibility to the island, it must also be balanced with the welfare of local communities and the protection of the environment. The government and the proponent must commit to transparency, including the submission of an ECC, which should be weighed based on environmental impact and sustainability. The environmental soundness of this project should be a crucial factor in determining its fate.
Ultimately, what is at stake is the preservation of an island whose charm has hinged on the rustic and raw beauty that Mother Nature has bestowed on it and attracted tourists from all over the world. Is it really worth compromising the sanctuary that Boracay offers with a bridge that would only erode its idyllic isolation and natural beauty?
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