BY JOSE PAOLO S. DELA CRUZ
The world-famous island of Boracay gets so much more than a facelift with the completion of Phases 1 and 2 of its Circumferential Road Project, which has resulted in 8.73 kilometers of widened, concrete roads that now come with spacious sidewalks, provisions for street lighting and, finally, its own drainage system!
“Political will and a whole of government approach.”
These, in Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar’s words, were the not-so-secret ingredients that they used to transform the once narrow and sub-par main road of Boracay into what it is today: concreted, widened, and constructed with its own drainage system, spacious sidewalks, provisions for street lighting, tree planting and road safety markings.
“Almost half of the entire 21.64-kilometer Boracay Circumferential has been improved and we are set to implement the remaining 11.68-kilometer section in the coming years to bring further transport relief to both locals and visitors of Boracay Island,” said Villar of the P 1.13-billion project, P 890 million of which has already been released since May 2018.
“Once fully completed, the improved Boracay Circumferential Road will reduce travel time from Cagban Port in Barangay Manoc Manoc to Ilig-Iligan Beach in Barangay Yapak by as much as 40 to 45 minutes from the usual one hour and 30 minutes. We are hopeful that better roads will make Boracay more appealing and beneficial to tourists and islanders alike,” added the hardworking Cabinet official, whom local government leaders have started to refer to as an adopted son of Aklan.
Dream come true
The successful road works were a dream come true for local government officials and residents alike. During the launch, Aklan Gov. Florencio Milaflores said, “I have been governor since 1995 and I never thought, not in my wildest dreams, that we can do this here in Boracay.”
Aside from equipping the island with better roads, the project is made even more notable for its inclusion of a working floodworks system. Malay Acting Mayor Frolibar Bautista said that the incorporation of larger sewerage systems helped ease the build up of water in catch basins such as Balabag, which worked wonders in easing flooding across the island.
No more backwaters
While the Circumferential Road was the star of the recent inauguration, close at its heel is Bolabog Beach, which many once referred to as the “backwaters of Boracay.” Today, its wide, cemented roads tell a different story. It also now comes with a beautiful promenade, where tourists and residents alike can spend time to appreciate this side of the island.
“The plan is to have a 1.2-kilometer, five-meter wide boardwalk in this area. It’s already funded under the 2021 budget,” said Lea Delfinado, regional director of DPWH Region VI, who also led the construction work for Phases 1 and 2 of the Circumferential Road.
Build, Build, Build Chairman Anna Mae Lamentillo also told PeopleAsia that clearing operations had to be done in order to make way for the road and promenade, which used to be a dead end occupied by hotels and various commercial establishments.
“What used to be the backwaters of Boracay will now be known as one of the most beautiful portions of the island,” said Ted Haresco, Second District Rep. of Aklan, who was also present during the inauguration.
Passion project
Like many members of his generation, the 42-year-old Villar admits that he has fond memories of Boracay from his younger years – and even up to the time he’s already in politics. The roads are not one of them.
“I remember how many would criticize us and almost hurl expletives at us whenever videos of flooding along the roads would go viral,” he shared in the vernacular. Villar also recalled how tourists and residents alike were initially irritated in 2018, when DPWH began its infrastructure projects on the island – seeing them only as an inconvenience.
“That’s why it’s special for me to be here today,” he added, before thanking the residents of the island for their patience, and assuring them that Phase 3 is well underway to truly elevate Boracay into a world-class destination, both in terms of natural beauty and infrastructure.
