By Rjay Zuriaga Castor
The plan to construct a bridge connecting Malay, Aklan to Boracay Island is gaining ground, with the project now included in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) funds for Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Infrastructure Projects.
The 1.2-kilometer Boracay bridge, alongside 25 other infrastructure projects, is allocated a portion of the PHP 4.6 billion fund for PPP projects in the DPWH’s 2025 budget.
According to the PPP Center’s website, San Miguel Holdings Corporation’s (SMC) unsolicited project proposal for the Boracay bridge has been under negotiation since February.
SMC initially presented the complete proposal in January 2019 and received original proponent status.
The project involves constructing a limited-access bridge system with facility hubs connecting Boracay Island with Caticlan, Malay.
The proposed bridge will be a two-way, two-lane structure with provisions for a bike lane and sidewalk on each side.
The estimated cost is PHP 6.5 billion, as per the PPP website, while the DPWH website pegged it at PHP 5.7 billion.
The project will follow a Build-Operate-Transfer scheme, where the private firm finances, constructs, operates, and maintains the facility for a fixed term before transferring it to the government, with a maximum cooperation period of 50 years.
According to the DPWH, the bridge is not intended to cater to vehicular through-traffic to avoid congestion on the island.
Instead, it will have loading and unloading areas at both ends to facilitate the movement of commuters, solid waste, goods, and supplies.
Once completed, the bridge is expected to help manage Boracay Island’s environmental carrying capacity and alleviate pressures from overcrowding and overuse of existing facilities.
The Department of Tourism previously reported that Boracay Island remains the top destination in Western Visayas, attracting 2.12 million tourists in 2023.Top of Form
