SMC contradicts Aklan officials on ₱7.78B Boracay Bridge project status

Local leaders say the project has been dropped, but Ramon Ang denies any withdrawal as controversy over the proposed bridge continues.

San Miguel Corp. (SMC) has been caught between conflicting statements over the status of the ₱7.78-billion Boracay Bridge project, after Aklan officials said it had been dropped while company chair Ramon S. Ang denied any such withdrawal.

Aklan officials announced during a local stakeholders’ meeting on May 27 that the project would no longer proceed. Local authorities had met with Ang on May 13 to raise concerns over the proposal.

Ang was aware of the opposition and was allegedly receptive to feedback from local officials, according to Aklan Governor Jose Enrique Miraflores. “In the end, nag-agree na rin siya na hindi na lang itutuloy ‘yung Boracay Bridge,” Miraflores said.

However, Ang directly disputed this account. Reacting to Miraflores’ statement, he told GMA News on May 27 that the reports were “not true.” In a separate message to Bilyonaryo, he added, “I don’t know why they said that.” The denial came just hours after reports circulated that the project had been suspended.

The proposed bridge would have connected Boracay Island to the town of Malay in mainland Aklan, spanning 2.54 kilometers over sea waters.

SMC submitted an unsolicited proposal for the Boracay Bridge in 2024 through its infrastructure arm, San Miguel Holdings Corp. The company later won the project bid in March 2026.

The project has drawn sustained opposition from local government units, indigenous communities, and environmental groups, citing concerns over overtourism, environmental impact, and potential displacement. Critics also flagged alleged issues on compliance with local consultation requirements.

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