BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – Negotiation on the proposed P6.50-billion Boracay bridge that will connect mainland Malay, Aklan to the famed island is now “under negotiation” between the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and a private proponent.
The Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center announced on its website that the Boracay bridge project is among the unsolicited proposals submitted before the effectiveness of the PPP Code that has been approved and is currently being negotiated.
The negotiation will be based on the project’s parameters, terms, and conditions following the submission of the unsolicited proposals before the effectivity of the PPP Code on Dec. 23, 2023.
The PPP Center gave the go signal for the project proponent, San Miguel Holdings Corporation (SMC), to negotiate with DPWH, under the provisions of the implementing rules and regulations of the PPP Code.
The negotiations for the unsolicited offer by SMC for the bridge project started on Feb. 21, 2024.
SMC, which operates the Boracay Airport through concession-holder TransAire Development Holdings Corp., intends to build the bridge through a build-operate-transfer (BOT) scheme.
The SMC, a food, drinks, and infrastructure conglomerate, had submitted all the required documents for the bridge project. DPWH’s certification was made on Jan. 29, 2019.
The project entails constructing a 1.2-kilometer limited-bridge access system with facility hubs connecting Boracay Island with Caticlan, Malay.
The scope of the project includes the financing, design, construction, operation, and maintenance by SMC of infrastructure between Boracay Island and Caticlan, Malay, according to DPWH.
Its proposed facilities include providing and operating a limited-access toll-bridge system, carriage of pedestrian lanes, bikeways, power, telecommunication, water supply, sewerage, utility lines, and public land transportation services.
The proposed bridge will be a two-way two-lane bridge with provision for a bike lane and sidewalk on each side.
The proposed bridge aims to manage the environmental carrying capacity of the Boracay.
It also intends to open up a new all-weather access for vehicles and pedestrians, thereby, encouraging people to consider alternative accommodations and activity centers on the mainland.
Likewise, the project hopes to free up Boracay Island from pressures due to overcrowding and overuse of existing facilities, which ultimately produce adverse environmental impacts.
Apart from improving the connectivity between Boracay Island and the mainland, the project will further enhance tourism infrastructure, support economic growth, and address logistical challenges associated with accessing Boracay Island.
Under the PPP Code, the implementing agency shall consider significant issues and concerns in the project implementation.
These include the legal, technical, economic, financial, and commercial feasibility of the project, as well as value for money, climate resilience and sustainability; and social and environmental safeguards.
The development of such a project shall commence only after the conduct of stakeholder consultation, the law provides.
The implementing agency shall secure the approval of their respective city or town council and the local development councils.
The agency is also authorized to “identify, develop, assess, evaluate, approve, negotiate, award, and undertake” the public- partnership projects.
The approval by the National Economic and Development Authority is necessary for the proposed project worth more than P15 billion./PN
