The improvement and rehabilitation of Boracay Circumferential Road which serves as the island’s main road network are expected to be completed before the opening of the island resort on October, the Department of Public Works and Highways said.
Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, who inspected the rehabilitation works in Boracay to ensure all improvement efforts in the scenic island, said that more than 40 percent of the project have already been completed.
“We have started the pouring of concrete and installation of pipes along Cagban to Elizalde Compound,” Villar said.
The construction of the missing gap from Barangay Manoc-Manoc to Barangay Yapak is also on track for completion based on the inspection.
“Now 60 percent completed, the construction of the missing gap, along the circumferential road, will facilitate travel around the famous Puka Beach,” said Villar.
DPWH is also constructing a 204 meter reinforced concrete pipe culvert at missing gap area for better drainage facility. It will have five catchment basins, 22-meter cross drain, and 130-meter cut-off wall for installation of curb and gutter.
Other improvement activities in Boracay include the clearing of illegally placed structures and construction of a road network along Bulabog beach.
Boracay Island was closed to the public for six months starting April 26 for rehabilitation and will officially reopen to the general public on October 26.
Boracay is popular with Chinese and South Korean visitors, which are the largest markets for the Philippines tourism industry. Chinese visitor numbers to the Philippines increased 43 percent in 2017 to nearly 1 million, while South Korean visitor numbers were up 9 percent to 1.6 million.
The island attracted two-million visitors in 2017.