By Ashley Erika O. Jose, Reporter
THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said it has approved the award of the P7.78-billion Boracay bridge project to San Miguel Holdings Corp. (SMHC), the infrastructure arm of San Miguel Corp. (SMC).
“We’re pleased to notify SMHC that on March 25, 2026, the DPWH approved the resolution by the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) prequalification, bids, and awards committee (PBAC) for PPP recommending the award of the contract to San Miguel Holdings Corp.,” Public Works Secretary Vivencio B. Dizon said in a notice of award dated March 30.
SMHC secured the project after no competing bids were submitted by the deadline.
The corporate holds original proponent status for the unsolicited project, which involves the financing, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of a 2.54-kilometer bridge system, including a 1.14-kilometer limited-access bridge linking Caticlan in Malay, Aklan, to Boracay Island.
Under project guidelines, the contract is awarded to the unique proponent if no comparative proposal is found to be superior.
The bridge will include access for public transport, pedestrian lanes, bikeways, and provisions for utilities similar to power, telecommunications, water supply, and sewerage, in response to the PPP Center.
The DPWH said the project goals to offer all-weather access between Boracay and Caticlan, improve emergency response, address solid and liquid waste management concerns, and support the island’s tourism-driven economy.
Individually, SMC is upgrading the Godofredo P. Ramos Airport in Caticlan through its unit Trans Aire Development Holdings Corp., with Megawide Construction Corp. undertaking the design and construction of the brand new passenger terminal constructing.
Meanwhile, Mr. Dizon said SMC has committed to partially opening a bit of the P58.42-billion South Luzon Expressway Toll Road 4 (SLEX TR4) by 2026.
“For San Miguel, RSA (Ramon S. Ang) has committed that they’ll finally open a part of TR4 by the top of 2026,” Mr. Dizon told reporters on the sidelines of an event last week.
Package A of the SLEX TR4 project is scheduled for completion by December 2026, based on DPWH data. The 11.32-kilometer segment covers Sto. Tomas, Batangas, to Makban, Laguna.
The complete project, which is split into six packages, is targeted for completion by June 2029. SLEX TR4 is being implemented by SMC SLEX, Inc., formerly South Luzon Tollways Corp.
The project has an estimated cost of P58.42 billion, excluding Package F, the ultimate segment spanning 9.96 kilometers from Tayabas to Mayao, Lucena, Quezon.
SLEX TR4 is a 66.74-kilometer, four-lane toll road from Sto. Tomas, Batangas, to Tayabas and Lucena City in Quezon province.
The project is anticipated to enhance the movement of products and services between Metro Manila and southern provinces by reducing travel time and easing congestion along the Pan-Philippine Highway.
“After which after (TR4) we’ll then move to TR5. These items will take time but with the precise push, we will get things done,” Mr. Dizon said.
The SLEX TR5 project is an extension of SLEX TR4. It’s a four-lane toll road spanning about 420 kilometers from the terminal point of SLEX TR4, in response to the DPWH.
The project goals to link Quezon and Bicol provinces and supply access to roll-on/roll-off ports.
SLEX TR5 consists of eight segments and is being implemented by South Luzon Toll Road 5 Expressway Corp. Segment 1 is estimated to cost about P22.6 billion.