ILOILO CITY – A local official has echoed the pronouncement of President Duterte that casinos at world-famous Boracay Island can help revive the pandemic-stricken economy.
“Of course, casinos can help the economy,” said Mayor Frolibar Bautista of Malay, the town in Aklan province where Boracay is located.
This came as Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) announced that President Duterte has given the green light for two major casino projects: one by the Macau-based Galaxy Entertainment Group (GEG) and the other by property developer Megaworld Corp.
While there is an existing 15-year ban on entry of new casinos in Boracay, the stand of the local government of Malay may change given the current scenario.
“But nothing is final yet. And even if there’s go signal, the casinos will have to be constructed. That won’t happen anytime soon. Maybe in the next three or so years,” Bautista said in an interview with Manila Bulletin Friday, September 3.
Boracay, the country’s most famous beach destination, has been trying to recuperate multi-billion losses since 2018 when the Duterte administration closed down Boracay temporarily for six months.
Boracay’s tourism industry suffered another blow when the COVID-19 pandemic came last March 2020.
While domestic tourism resumed last October 2020, Boracay is again off-limits to tourists since early middle of August this year when Aklan province was put under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) status due to sudden spike in COVID-19 cases.
Bautista also clarified that there used to be smaller casinos operating in Boracay before the 2018 tourism closure.