Villar opens Boracay circumferential road

MANILA, Philippines — Tourists can now use a much-improved road in going around Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan with the completion of a 8.73-kilometer portion of the Boracay Circumferential Road Project of the Department of Public Works and Highways.

DPWH Secretary Mark Villar on Friday inaugurated the completed Phase 1 and 2 road portions that were concreted, widened and constructed with a drainage system, wider sidewalks, streetlights, trees and safety markings.

The completed segments of the Boracay Circumferential Road Project included the Phase 1, which spans 4.47 kilometers and has three sections: Cagban Port to Hue Hotel, Hue Hotel to Elizalde and up to Bolabog Dramatic Road.

Phase 2 is 3.36 kilometers and also has three sections: Elizalde to Ambassador, Ambassador to City Mall and Tambis-an Port to Rotonda.

Also completed was an 800-meter section in Laketown, which was funded in 2019.

“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,” Villar said.

The DPWH allocated P890 million for the completion of Phase 1 and 2., and the remaining section will require P1.13 billion to complete.

“Once completed, the Boracay Circumferential Road will reduce travel time from Cagban Port in Barangay Manoc Manoc to Ilig-Iligan Beach in Barangay Yapak by 40 to45 minutes from the usual one (1) hour and 30 minutes. We are hopeful that better roads will make Boracay more appealing and beneficial to tourists and islanders,” Villar said.