Kalibo bishop joins call vs Boracay bridge

CAGBAN JETTY PORT Boracay Island, a top tourist destination in the country, is accessible only by commercial ferries or private vessels from mainland Aklan, via the port of Caticlan in Malay town, which has jurisdiction over the island. This Cagban jetty port in Boracay, shown in this undated photo, is a key entry point to the island. —JACK JARILLA

ILOILO CITY—The Diocese of Kalibo in Aklan has joined the chorus of local communities opposing the proposed bridge connecting Boracay Island to the mainland of Panay Island, citing environmental, economic and moral damage.

Archbishop Victor Bendico, the archbishop of Capiz and also the Kalibo Diocese’s apostolic administrator, warned in a Nov. 1 pastoral statement about “repeating the same mistakes” that led to the island’s temporary closure in 2018, which was attributed to environmental degradation in its premises.

He warned against the destruction of fish and coral ecosystems, loss of livelihood by fisherfolk and displacement of Ati communities who have been living on the island for centuries should the bridge project materialize.

“[W]e must not forget the painful lesson of 2018, when Boracay was closed for rehabilitation after years of unregulated tourism. That closure taught us that limiting access is essential for ecological recovery and sustainable development,” the prelate said.

The threats

“To construct a massive bridge now—removing the natural barrier that limits access and makes the island unique—risks repeating the same mistakes under a different guise. Beyond the environmental threat, such a project may also cause social imbalance and deepen existing inequalities,” they added.

They also warned against a possible opening of the island to casinos and other gambling activities, which they said might have other effects on the island’s people.

“[T]he proposed bridge risks opening Boracay to unrestrained entry of outside influences and industries including, possibly, casino and gambling establishments and related activities, whether legal or illegal—that could exploit the island’s name and undermine its moral and cultural fabric,” they said.

“While such ventures may promise economic gain, they often carry with them the seeds of social harm: addiction, broken families and moral corruption,” they added.

The pastoral statement was the latest expression of opposition to the proposed bridge, which would span 2.54 kilometers and connect the island to the town of Malay.

The bridge was conceptualized by local authorities to address crowding at the jetty ports in Caticlan on mainland Malay, and those in Boracay especially during peak holiday seasons.

Last June, the Boracay Ati Tribal Organization posted a video on its Facebook page with Ati adults and children supporting calls opposing the bridge, saying that the island’s people would also “lose their lives and dreams” if the bridge were to proceed.

The Malay municipal council in July removed the proposed bridge from the local government’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan and Annual Investment Plan due to the growing opposition.