Boracay’s untapped potential

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Last March 30, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) issued a notice of award to San Miguel Holdings Corp. (SMHC) to finance, construct, design, operate and maintain the proposed 2.54-kilometer Boracay Bridge Project that will link Barangay Manoc-Manoc on Boracay Island to Caticlan in mainland Aklan.

SMHC won the 30-year concession after undergoing a public-private partnership (PPP) competitive challenge known as the Swiss challenge. However, no competing bids were submitted. SMC also operates Boracay Airport, also known as Caticlan Airport.

At present, local boat operators provide the primary means of transport between Caticlan and Boracay. The island, which saw 2.1 million visitors last year, is currently accessible only by ferry boats.

According to a project briefer prepared by the DPWH, the Boracay Bridge Project is an unsolicited proposal for the financing, design, construction, operation and maintenance of a bridge system with a length of 2.54 kilometers, including a 1.14 km limited-access bridge connecting Boracay Island and Caticlan, Malay, with public transport access, pedestrian lanes, bikeways, transport of solid waste and cargo, and provision of carriage of utility lines such as power, telecommunication, water supply and sewerage.

The project, estimated to cost P7.95 billion and expected to take three years to build, aims to provide an all-weather, safe and efficient access to Boracay from Caticlan and vice-versa, address the increasing solid and liquid waste management and disposal; issues of the island through reliable access and provisions for disposal, improve response times during disasters and medical emergencies, and support the steady growth of the island’s economy which is primarily fueled by its tourism sector.

Local and foreign tourists have emphasized the benefits of reduced travel time and the need for multiple transfers to reach the island after arriving at either the Caticlan Airport or the Kalibo International Airport. On the other hand, some locals claim that the project would only eat into boat operators’ profits and may even cause environmental damage. The Aklan provincial government earlier rejected the project, saying it could harm the environment and worsen congestion, as did the Boracay Foundation Inc., a group representing Boracay’s business sector, tourism workers, and residents.

The proposal, according to Malacanang, remains subject to the President’s approval. But DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said that all these concerns will be addressed and that San Miguel has given assurances toward this end.

Last Wednesday, SMC president and CEO Ramon Ang highlighted the project’s benefits, including the huge convenience it will provide to some 15,000 workers of the island that live in Caticlan, the ease of disposing of garbage off the island and the expected reduction in power rates from the current P18 per kilowatt hour to P8 per kWh.

I’m sure that RSA only has the best intentions when his company proposed the project to the government.

And given SMHC’s and SMC Infrastructure’s track record, having been involved in some of the country’s biggest and most successful PPP and concession projects, including Bulacan International Airport, TPLEX, the Skyway system, SLEX, Star Tollway, NAIAX, MRT-7, to name a few, there is no doubt that Boracay will be in good hands.

According to RSA, aside from wanting to help solve the country’s flood control problem by undertaking large-scale river and waterways cleanup, he now wants to address the traffic problem by building roads and bridges in major cities, citing the congestion in areas like Laoag and Vigan in Ilocos, Baguio, Bacnotan, Pampanga, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Bacolod and Iloilo.

Roads and bridges are crucial infrastructure as they serve as the backbone for economic growth, connectivity, and development. They facilitate the faster, smoother transportation of goods and people, reduce logistical costs, improve market accessibility for businesses, and attract investment. Boracay’s crystal-clear waters, powdery white sand, and vibrant island life have drawn hordes of tourists, both foreign and local, to the island, but the island’s infrastructure could hardly keep up.

The Boracay Bridge Project offers a much-needed solution to the island’s growing problems, including garbage disposal and high food costs. Resisting change is not going to help.

Leading the charge

Premier educational institution iACADEMY, known for its specialized, high-value niche degrees in technology, design, and business, has achieved an unprecedented milestone in real estate education.

The school was officially hailed as the Top Performing School in the 2026 Real Estate Brokers Licensure Examination (REBLE), recording a 100 percent passing rate and producing seven national topnotchers.

Leading the charge is Mary Thea Bianca Sy Bautista, who ranked first with an outstanding 94 percent. She is followed by Jessica Lyn Toledo Mupas-Buhain (Top 2, 93 percent) and Rudolf Soliman Villanueva Andallo (Top 5, 92 percent). Also among the top performers are Bahama Mirachylle Abiera Josue (Top 7, 91.5 percent) and Giovanni Ybañez Tianero (Top 8, 91.25 percent). Completing the list are Sheryll Tiu Dela Torre and Nikko Joaquico Jeremias, who both secured the top 10 spot with a score of 90.75 percent.

The Professional Regulation Commission reported that 1,863 out of 2,296 examinees nationwide passed the licensure exam. iACADEMY stood out not only for its perfect passing rate but also for fielding over 50 examinees, all of whom achieved at least an 80 percent passing grade.

Dr. JV Padua, dean for the School of Business and Liberal Arts at iACADEMY, said that this achievement is a testament to both the individual dedication of its topnotchers and the robust support system and training it provides.

Raquel Perez Wong, iACADEMY president and COO, attributes the school’s continued success to its strategic shift into high-value niche degrees, such as the Bachelor of Science in Real Estate Management.

This, she said, is a massive victory, not just for them but for the specialized approach to modern education, adding that when they designed their high-value niche degrees, they knew they were responding to real market demands and were filling a critical gap. Programs like BS Real Estate Management are proving that focused education can produce exceptional outcomes, Wong emphasized.

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