KALIBO, Aklan—A silent protest was organized by boat operators to express their opposition to the proposed Boracay bridge.
According to Christine Hope Pagsuguiron, a barangay councilor of Caticlan, Malay, the motorcade started around 8 AM, beginning at Barangay Caticlan, passing through Barangay Poblacion, and stopping at the municipal hall before returning to Tabon Port.
The protest was organized by the Caticlan-Boracay Transport Multi-Purpose Cooperative (CBTMPC), an association and cooperative of boat operators and boatmen in the area.
Other transport groups and some private individuals also joined the protest.
The association strongly opposes the proposed construction of a bridge connecting Malay to Boracay Island due to concerns that it could negatively impact their livelihood.
The group emphasized that they have not yet recovered financially from their investments in upgrading their wooden boats to fiberglass, as mandated by the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA).
Additionally, Pagsuguiron mentioned that the group fears the bridge project could harm the environment, particularly the coral reefs and marine ecosystem, once major construction begins.
They also worry that the leading ports in the town would lose significant revenue.
The project is under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Infrastructure Projects, to be managed by San Miguel Corporation.
The bridge is estimated to have a funding of P4.6 billion.