Boracay’s Ati tribe says no to bridge project
ILOILO CITY—Ati communities on Boracay Island are opposing the proposed construction of a bridge that will connect the popular island destination to mainland Panay, through Malay, Aklan.
In a Facebook post on June 3, the island’s Ati villagers said the bridge would take away livelihood from indigenous peoples who work on the island, especially as boatmen.
“The island has been our home since the time of our ancestors. It is not just a place for recreation but a sacred and important part of our lives as well as to those who have lived here, especially us who work hard every day, like the boatmen,” they said in Filipino.
“Every voyage is a symbol of the connection of our culture and life and not just a source of living. It has become their (boatmen) life and a bridge to their family’s dreams,” they added. “If we take this from them, it is not only their living being taken, but their life and their dreams. Even the symbols of our culture and respect for our dignity.”
They said the project’s aim of speeding up the island’s development should not be at the expense of locals.
The proposed P7.95-billion bridge is also facing opposition from business owners on the island and local officials.
Outgoing Aklan Vice Gov. Boy Quimpo changed his cover photo on his personal Facebook page with the words “No To Boracay Bridge.”
The Boracay Foundation Inc., a nonprofit organization of the island’s stakeholders, issued a resolution in March this year reiterating its opposition to the proposed bridge.
‘Unsolicited proposal’
Godofredo Sadiasa, consultant for the Caticlan Boracay Transport Multi-Purpose Cooperative, the transport service entity serving the island through the Caticlan jetty port, earlier told Radyo Todo Aklan that the bridge would affect 500 boatmen and 40 boat owners.
The Department of Public Works and Highways, on its website, described the project as an “unsolicited proposal” with a 1.2-kilometer limited-access bridge infrastructure between Boracay Island, one of the country’s leading tourist destinations, and the main island of Panay, through Malay.
The bridge was pitched as a public-private partnership solution aimed at improving the transport of goods, facilitating waste disposal and improving emergency response during typhoons and heavy rains. It also aims to manage the environmental carrying capacity of Boracay Island.
