ILOILO CITY – The multi-sector group Boracay Foundation Inc. (BFI) has asked President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to intervene and halt the proposed bridge project for world-famous Boracay Island in Malay town in Aklan province.

“We respectfully urge your intervention to halt any movement toward the (bridge) project (and) require a current, independent, science-based environmental impact assessment; and direct transparent and inclusive stakeholder consultations,” the BFI appealed to Marcos.

But the letter was dated Feb. 4, more than a month before the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) approved and awarded the P7.78-billion bridge contract to San Miguel Holdings Corp. (SMHC).

For years, BFI has consistently opposed the proposed 2.54-kilometer bridge that will link Boracay Island and mainland Malay.

“We are gravely concerned that the bridge will permanently alter Boracay’s physical character, weaken environmental safeguards, and threaten the livelihoods of communities whose futures depend on the island’s fragile ecosystem,” said BFI to Marcos.

BFI emphasized the bridge is “unnecessary” and “misaligned” as Boracay already has a reliable maritime transport serving tourists and residents.

The BFI noted Marcos made a positive remark about the local boat industry in Boracay during a July 2025 groundbreaking ceremony for the new terminal of Caticlan (Boracay) Airport in Malay.

“Pagsakay sa bangka, ito na ang bakasyon (The boat ride is the start of the vacation),” Marcos was quoted as saying.

The BFI also echoed concerns raised by local officials of Aklan and Malay that the bridge never had any public consultation and it lacked endorsement from local government units (LGUs). The LGUs repeatedly passed resolutions that strongly oppose the project.

Malacañang has forwarded BFI’s letter to DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon.

“We respectfully refer for appropriate action, subject to existing laws, rules, and regulations,” wrote Deputy Executive Secretary Danielle Rieza Culangen in a March 25, 2026 letter.

“May we likewise mention that the purpose of this letter is only to forward a copy of the correspondence and should not, in any way, be construed as interceding in the recipient’s own evaluation and action,” Culangen added.

Dizon told Manila Bulletin during an April 15 visit in Iloilo that SMHC, the infrastructure arm of San Miguel Corp., is responsible for addressing concerns of Boracay stakeholders.

Dizon noted that DPWH is only there to facilitate the concerns raised by Boracay stakeholders and San Miguel Corp.