Proposed Boracay bridge ‘harmful’

THE AREA called Station 1, near the iconic Willy’s Rock, is a popular spot for tourists to gather and wait for picture-perfect sunsets on Boracay Island in Malay town, Aklan province. ROBERT ABAÑO

ILOILO CITY—A plan by one of the country’s biggest companies to build a 1.9-kilometer bridge to make it easier to go to Boracay is facing opposition from the local government and community leaders in the world-famous island resort.

San Miguel Corp. (SMC) has announced plans to build the bridge, estimated to cost P4.6 billion, to connect the village of Caticlan to Boracay.

Incoming Mayor Ciceron Cawaling of Malay town, where Barangay Caticlan and Boracay are located, said he would oppose the project.

“It will do more harm than good to Boracay,” said Cawaling on Monday, affirming a position he first stated during the campaign period.

He said he would also explain to his constituents why the proposed bridge, which was supported by outgoing Mayor John Yap, should be opposed. Yap lost his reelection bid.

SMC president Ramon S. Ang earlier said the bridge would make it more convenient for tourists to get to Boracay and ease traffic congestion on the 1,032-hectare island.

He said, through the bridge, tourists would have a choice of staying in hotels in Caticlan where rates are lower.

But Cawaling said the project would benefit mainly SMC, which is building a 5,000-room hotel, among other facilities, at the Godofredo P. Ramos airport complex which is operated by SMC-controlled TransAire Development Holdings Corp.

SMC refused to comment on this report.

The project could also displace at least 400 families who are dependent on the operation of motorboats that ferry residents and tourists between Caticlan and Boracay, according to Godofredo Sadiasa, chair of Caticlan-Boracay Transport Multi-Purpose Cooperative.

“We cannot do anything if this will be approved but we hope they will consider the impact on boat operators and workers,” Sadiasa said.

He said operators and drivers of tricycles in Boracay would also be affected.

Sadiasa acknowledged that a bridge would bring all-weather transportation to and from Boracay.

But Cawaling said the bridge could destroy the scenery.

Dionesio Salme, president of Boracay Foundation Inc., a group of business operators on the island, said many residents and business operators in Boracay oppose the bridge proposal.

Salme said while the project offers advantages, like more efficient transport of waste and workers, “the bridge will also bring in more people and vehicles.”

He said priority should be housing units for employees of hotels and resorts.

Tourist arrivals in Boracay reached 1,560,106 last year, according to data from the Department of Tourism in Western Visayas.

Tourism revenues also increased to nearly P44 billion in 2015 from P40 billion in 2014. –Nestor P. Burgos Jr.