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SAN Miguel Corp. (SMC) on Monday said no boatmen servicing tourists to Boracay Island will be displaced by the proposed 1.2-kilometer Boracay bridge project that will connect the island to mainland Malay.
SMC President Ramon Ang said the company plans to train affected boatmen to operate “hybrid vehicles” that will transport visitors across the island, ensuring continued livelihood even after the bridge’s completion.
“No boatman will lose their job,” Ang said during the groundbreaking of a new passenger terminal building for Caticlan Airport on Monday.
“Under our proposal, we will work with them, train them and help them transition to driving a hybrid vehicle that will bring visitors across.” He said that SMC recognizes the significance of mobility around the island and tourists’ experience of Boracay.
The Caticlan Boracay Transport Multi-Purpose Cooperative earlier said the bridge project could directly affect around 500 boatmen and 40 boat owners currently providing ferry services to the island.
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Ang said that with the improvements slated for the Caticlan Airport, the primary gateway to Boracay, the construction of the bridge is necessary to accommodate the influx of local and international tourists.
The two-story terminal building, expected to be completed by 2027, is projected to handle 7 million passengers per year.
“As we prepare for the growth that this terminal will bring, we also need to think ahead, which is why we propose a [Boracay Bridge], not to replace what’s already here, but to help support,” Ang said.
With more visitors expected, he said that Boracay will require a more reliable system to manage access, traffic, solid waste and the movement of goods.
“The island generates thousands of tons of sewage a day. We all know how difficult it is to get that off the island quickly and safely. This bridge can help with that,” he added.
The P8-billion project involves the construction of a limited-access, two-way, two-lane bridge with provisions for bike lanes and sidewalks on both sides.
The Department of Public Works and Highways clarified that the bridge will not be open to regular vehicular through traffic but will facilitate the movement of commuters, goods, supplies and waste.
This is intended to reduce environmental strain and help manage the island’s carrying capacity.
