ILOILO City – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) moved to allay opposition to the proposed P7.8-billion Boracay bridge project, stressing that no full-scale construction will proceed unless all concerns raised by local governments and stakeholders are resolved.
DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon, who was in Iloilo on Wednesday, April 15, underscored that addressing environmental, social, and governance issues remains a prerequisite as the project advances under a public-private partnership (PPP) scheme.
“This is a critical infrastructure project that we need to build, but we need to assure the residents and stakeholders that whatever grievances and concerns they have, all of those need to be addressed and satisfied,” Dizon said.
The proposed bridge, spearheaded by San Miguel Corporation in partnership with DPWH, seeks to connect Boracay Island to mainland Panay, where several airport are located — an initiative positioned to significantly improve access to one of the country’s top tourist destinations.
However, the Aklan provincial government has firmly rejected the bridge project, citing environmental risks and the possibility of worsening congestion on Boracay Island.
Despite the opposition, Dizon said consultations between San Miguel Corporation and local officials had already been conducted.
“I was informed by San Miguel that the provincial government has already been consulted. There have been talks and agreements,” he said, adding that addressing stakeholder concerns remains primarily the responsibility of the private proponent.
Dizon also said he received assurances from San Miguel Corporation president Ramon S. Ang that all issues raised by the provincial government and the municipality of Malay would be addressed.
“It is very, very important that the concerns of local stakeholders, especially the province and the municipality of Malay, are addressed,” he stressed.
Even as resistance persists, San Miguel Corporation is preparing to move into the project’s pre-construction phase, with geotechnical studies set to begin soon. These studies will assess soil and ground conditions to ensure the structural safety of the planned 2.54-kilometer bridge.
The shift to technical groundwork signals that the project is advancing, even as political and environmental questions remain unresolved.
Proponents argue the bridge could unlock major economic gains, including improved connectivity, faster emergency response, job generation, and increased business activity in the region.
But critics warn that without careful planning, the project could compromise Boracay’s fragile ecosystem and strain its already limited carrying capacity.
The DPWH acknowledged that unresolved opposition from the Aklan provincial government poses a significant challenge, emphasizing that stakeholder concerns must be fully addressed before the project proceeds to construction./PN
