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Awarding of P7.7-B bridge project vs people's will, says Aklan SP

Philippines | Visayas

Awarding of P7.7-B bridge project vs people's will, says Aklan SP

By Tara Yap

SUNSET at world-famous Boracay Island. (Tara Yap)

SUNSET at world-famous Boracay Island. (Tara Yap)

ILOILO CITY – The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Aklan said the awarding by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) of the P7.78-billion bridge project linking world-famous Boracay Island to mainland Malay town is against the will of the people.

“The continued pursuit of the Boracay bridge project, notwithstanding the objections, is an affront to the collective will of the people,” said the SP in Resolution No. 593-2026.

The provincial board is sending a copy of the resolution to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. reiterating the objection of the people of Aklan against the 2.54-kilometer project by San Miguel Holdings Corp. (SMHC).

The infrastructure arm of San Miguel Corp. (SMC) said the project can greatly improve transportation to and from the country’s most popular beach destination.

AKLAN SP FB

But the Aklan provincial board stated it is “too grave” for the Marcos administration to ignore the environmental, economic, social, and livelihood impacts “for the sake of improved connectivity.”

The provincial board questioned how the DPWH was able to award the contract to SMHC when no public consultation was conducted and no endorsement from the local government units (LGUs) of the province of Aklan and the Malay LGU was made.

The resolution stated that public consultation is mandated by the Local Government Code of 1991. “This constitutes a patent disregard of local government authority and circumvention of legally mandated processes,” it added.

Related Tags

Aklan Boracay Boracay bridge DPWH SMC

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