Contradictory statements on Boracay casino plan
MANILA — A plan to construct an entertainment complex on Boracay Island that was floated late last year has been met with opposition and skepticism amid conflicting statements on whether it will push through or not.
The highest official of the land himself, President Rodrigo Duterte, last April 9 said no casinos would be allowed on the island, which is set to be closed to tourists on April 26.
"There are no plans for a casino. That’s enough, because it's too much. There's a casino here, casino there," Duterte said in Filipino at a press conference held before his departure for the Boao Forum for Asia in Hainan, China.
Instead, Duterte said, Boracay will be turned into an area for land reform then distributed to farmers.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque echoed this statement, saying Duterte just wants to return the island to regular people. He clarified that Boracay is not for sale.
Whether or not the area is ideal for farming, Roque said, “the point of the president is he wants to return Boracay to the ordinary people, not to the rich resort owners.”
“He wants the future generations to benefit from the beauty of Boracay, not just the rich,” Roque said in a Palace press briefing held in Boracay on Tuesday.
In October 2008, the Supreme Court affirmed President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s Proclamation 1064, classifying Boracay as both forest and agricultural land. The proclamation states that the 400 hectares of the island is reserved forestland for “protection purposes” and 628.96 hectares of which is agricultural land that are alienable and disposable.
Casino project in Boracay no more, DOT says.
A week after Duterte and the Palace made the statements that the provisional license for the Boracay casino project is void, the Department of Tourism said Galaxy Entertainment would no longer pursue the project there.
Tourism Assistant Secretary Frederick Alegre said Galaxy is “now looking for another venue.”
“And that’s very much welcome, Secretary [Wanda] Teo answered that— interagency task force is happy that they’re looking,” Alegre said.
“And when they find, then they just have to go through the process of accreditation and securing, again a new PAGCOR temporary or a provisional authority, and the whole process will have to repeat. But that’s a welcome news, that they’re looking for another venue,” he added.
Local partner says casino plan still a go.
Galaxy’s Filipino partner Leisure & Resorts World Corp., however, denied the DOT’s pronouncement. The Benitez-led gaming firm said it “continues to be in talks with its partner Galaxy Entertainment.”
"Both parties have not reached any final decision regarding its planned Boracay resort project. Following protocol, no change in plans or project location would be made without prior consultation and agreement with PAGCOR," Leisure & Resorts World said in a statement.