BORACAY ISLAND -- The Municipal Council of Malay may adopt the proposal to build a P5.5-billion bridge in this resort island soon.
Vice Mayor-elect Floribar Bautista said Wednesday, June 26, that he is looking for the bridge to become an effective solution against certain problems in this resort island.
Bautista's reign will start effective June 30 after winning the election last May.
Earlier, the Department of Public Works and Highways announced that it will soon give original proponent status (OPS) to the San Miguel Corp. (SMC).
The SMC in 2018 offered unsolicited proposal to the government to build the bridge.
"The bridge is just one of the three options I wanted Boracay to have. One is a cable car, another will be through underwater tunnel and the third the bridge. Having Boracay connected in Malay will lessen prices of basic commodities and will speed up delivery of services," said Bautista.
"One of Boracay's biggest challenge(s) is tourists were sometimes stranded as boats are not allowed to sail especially during typhoons. Through a bridge, tourists could now conveniently travel to safety," Bautistra added.
He also suggested that protective measures should be in place to avoid possible abuses on the use of the bridge.
For his part, Godofredo Sadiasa, of the Caticlan Boracay Transport Multi-Purpose Cooperative (CBYMPC), said they welcome the proposal "because they have no choice."
The CBTMPC is a cooperative of boat operators in this resort island.
"The challenge here for me is we hope that the government would support the boat crews who may be displaced with the said development, possible increase of community and the possibility that the pristine beauty of Boracay would now be lesser," he said.
At present, the CBTMPC is bracing itself and finding other alternatives once the proposed construction of bridge will push through.