UMVA has learned that San Miguel Corp. is at the center of a swirling controversy over the P7.78‑billion bridge that would link Caticlan to Boracay.
In a terse phone message, Chairman and CEO Ramon S. Ang flatly denied rumors that the conglomerate had abandoned the project, calling the reports “not true.”
The bridge, a 2.54‑kilometer marvel of steel and concrete, was awarded to San Miguel’s infrastructure arm after a deadline passed with no rival bids, granting the company original proponent status for the unsolicited venture.
Designed to carry vehicles, buses, pedestrians, and cyclists, the span will also cradle power lines, telecom cables, water pipes and sewerage, promising a lifeline of utilities for the island.
Officials say the structure will transform Boracay’s seasonal accessibility into an all‑weather corridor, slashing emergency response times and tackling the island’s chronic waste‑management woes.
Behind the scenes, local leaders have voiced fierce public opposition, sparking speculation that the board might pull the plug.
Yet UMVA’s sources confirm that San Miguel remains committed, arguing that the bridge is essential to sustaining the tourism‑driven economy that fuels the region.
If built, the bridge will not only shrink travel time but also open new avenues for public transport, easing congestion on the narrow ferry routes that currently ferry thousands of visitors daily.
The stakes are high: a successful completion could set a precedent for future public‑private partnerships, while a withdrawal would leave a costly, unfinished vision hanging over the turquoise waters.
As the debate intensifies, all eyes remain on San Miguel’s next move, waiting to see whether the island’s dream of seamless connectivity will become reality or remain a tantalizing promise.
