DIZON (Tara Yap)
ILOILO CITY – Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon assured that San Miguel Holdings Corp. (SMHC) will address concerns over the proposed bridge project in Boracay Island, the country’s most popular beach destination.
“We are assuring the residents there and the stakeholders that whatever grievances they have and all their concerns will be addressed by San Miguel,” said Dizon here on Wednesday, April 15.
It was announced this week that SMHC was awarded a P7.78-billion contract for the 2.54-kilometer project under the DPWH public-private partnership (PPP) program.
But local officials and residents of Malay town in Aklan province questioned the awarding of the project to SMHC without endorsement from the local government and public consultation.
The Aklan Provincial Board passed a resolution in 2025 that formalized their objection to the project that was seen to further degrade Boracay’s environment, open doors for overdevelopment, and displace the local boat industry.
Dizon said stakeholders’ concerns are the responsibility of SMHC as the proponent and DPWH is only there to facilitate their concerns.
“I was assured by San Miguel—by Mr. Ramon Ang himself—that those concerns will be addressed properly,” Dizon said.
Under the contract, SMHC will design, finance, construct, operate, and maintain the bridge that would link Boracay Island with mainland Malay town.
“This is a critical infrastructure project that needs to be built,” Dizon said.
Dizon said there were “consultations” and “agreements” reached between the provincial government of Aklan and SMHC. However, he did not elaborate.