Boracay Bridge

[Old55]

Boracay Bridge Moves Forward With San Miguel Despite Aklan Opposition.

by Micah Avry Guiao*

Published on Apr 14, 2026

For all the opposition surrounding the Boracay Bridge Project, the project is moving forward anyway, with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) picking San Miguel Holdings Corporation (SMHC) for the job.

In a Notice of Award on March 30, the DPWH awarded the P7.78-billion contract to SMHC for the financing, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of a 2.54-kilometer bridge connecting Malay to Boracay. It will also include a 1.14-km bridge with two lanes, including sidewalks and bike lanes.

“We will start geotechnical design soon,” SMHC CEO Ramon Ang told Insider.ph.

That does not mean construction starts tomorrow. Under the notice, SMHC has 20 calendar days from receipt of the award to accept it, post a performance security, form the special purpose company that will act as concessionaire, and submit proof of financing and equity for the project.

Once those requirements are completed, the DPWH will review the submissions and notify the company. SMHC will then have five calendar days to sign the concession agreement.

If it fails to meet those deadlines, the award will be canceled.

You might recall that in October 2025, the Provincial Board of Aklan rejected SMHC's proposal for the bridge. Officials point out that residents of Malay were not adequately consulted for the project, despite the fact that the bridge would cut straight through their daily routines.

“The bridge will destroy the allure of Boracay as an island destination known for its white sand beaches and captivating marine environment,” it said in Resolution No. 193-2025. “Infrastructure development must not come at the expense of long-term environmental damage.”

According to the Caticlan-Boracay Transport Multi-Purpose Cooperative (CBTMPC), around 40 employees and 414 boatmen, along with 2,200 dependents, would lose their livelihoods should ferry services be replaced by a fixed bridge.

Environmental concerns played a significant role in the decision. Boracay’s surrounding waters include coral reefs and seagrass beds that could be disturbed by foundation work, dredging, and increased traffic. The province also flagged the risk of water and air pollution, noting that allowing vehicles onto the island adds pressure to an ecosystem that only recently recovered from its rehabilitation.

There’s also the fact that Aklan earns significantly from terminal fees and local taxes collected from boat traffic—over P600 million in annual revenue, to be exact—that provincial services, including hospital operations and other social programs.

 

*Point of interest:

 

Micah Avry Guiao

News Editor

Micah believes that writing is always political. Beyond the byline, you’ll find her bruising herself on a pole or doting on her beagle. Reach her at micah@spot.ph.

[Lee]

6 hours ago, Old55 said:

you’ll find her bruising herself on a pole

Not sure that I really want to know what this means.     LOL