Cheyenne Suarez

San Miguel says Boracay Bridge project ‘not abandoned’; to conduct more consultations

Visitors flock to Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Arthur Fuentes

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — San Miguel Corporation (SMC) said it has not abandoned the Boracay Bridge project, contrary to what Aklan provincial officials had announced earlier this week. In a statement, SMC said “further consultations will be pursued to hear from a broader range of local stakeholders and guide the project’s next steps.”The company issued the statement after Aklan Governor Jose Enrique Miraflores announced on Wednesday that the planned Boracay Bridge project would no longer push through. Miraflores said this was after provincial officials conveyed the strong opposition of local stakeholders during a meeting on May 13 in Ortigas with San Miguel Corporation President Ramon Ang.According to Miraflores, they presented the grievances and concerns of various sectors, including tricycle drivers, as well as environmental issues.&quot;Naipresenta namin ang mga concern ng aming stakeholders mula sa sektor ng traysikel hanggang sa mga isyung pangkapaligiran at malinaw na natalakay at naiparating ang lahat,” Miraflores said.(We were able to present the concerns of our stakeholders, from the tricycle sector to environmental issues, and everything was clearly discussed and conveyed.) San Miguel, however, issued a statement on Friday saying there were “differing interpretations of discussions&quot; of the meeting between Ang, Miraflores and other Aklan officials. “The meeting was part of continuing consultations on the project and focused on concerns raised by boat owners, transport associations, cooperatives, tricycle drivers, port workers and other local stakeholders. These included possible livelihood displacement, outstanding boat modernization loans and changes to existing transport operations between Caticlan and Boracay,” San Miguel said.The company added that Ang acknowledged the opposition expressed by the Aklan officials and said the company would not insist on pursuing the project if the host communities do not support it. SMC added that it has been “engaging stakeholders in good faith and will continue to work with government, cooperatives and local groups to study mitigation measures, transition support and livelihood programs.”The company also said that the planned Boracay Bridge is not intended to open the island to unrestricted vehicle access. “Vehicle use would be limited to authorized vehicles under rules to be set by local and national authorities.”It said the project was meant to improve the movement of essential goods, waste, utilities, emergency services and regulated transport between Caticlan and Boracay.“It is meant to complement, not replace, the existing boat crossing between Caticlan and Boracay. Passenger movement through the jetty port is expected to remain operational, while the bridge would take on functions better handled through a controlled land connection, including waste movement, cargo, utilities and emergency access,” SMC said. The planned construction of the P7.78-billion Boracay Bridge Project had been criticized over its potential impact on the environment, tourism, and the livelihoods of Boracay residents.San Miguel proposed the Boracay Bridge project in April 2018, as the tourist island was about to be shuttered for six months on orders of then-President Rodrigo Duterte. The 2.54-kilometer bridge project was approved in January 2025, and was awarded to SMC after the comparative challenge period concluded in March 2026.SMC currently also operates the Caticlan airport, which is the main gateway to Boracay Island.- With a report from Rolen Escaniel

San Miguel Corp said it has not abandoned the Boracay Bridge project, contrary to what Aklan provincial officials had announced earlier this week.

San Miguel Corp said it has not abandoned the Boracay Bridge project, contrary to what Aklan provincial officials had announced earlier this week.