The $500-million plan for the construction of a casino resort on the Philippines’ Boracay Island has encountered heavy criticism from a local environmental organization after project developers Galaxy Entertainment Group and Leisure and Resorts World Corp. were granted on Wednesday a provisional license for the operation of casino gaming by Philippine regulators.
It became clear yesterday that construction work is set to begin next year. The resort is set to launch in 2022. Developers and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR), known to be the Philippine gambling regulator, also stated that what now seems to be imminent closure of Boracay for environmental cleanup would not affect adversely plans for the construction of the multi-million complex.
Members of the Boracay Foundation board expressed their discontent with the approval of Galaxy’s casino resort plan, arguing that the island has already established itself as a popular tourism destination and does not need gambling to draw international and local visitors. The Boracay Foundation is a non-profit organization that aims to preserve the island’s environment and serve its business and social needs.
With total area of 10.32 square kilometers and population of around 12,000 people, Boracay is a tiny island in the central Philippines. The island is known for its white sand beaches, water attractions, and nighttime entertainment options.
Connie Helgen, member of the Boracay Foundation board, told local media that the above are more than enough to draw tourists to the island and support the livelihood of those that inhabit it. She went on to say that Manila, the Philippine capital, already has enough casinos and that an establishment of this kind would only harm the island’s social environment.
Environmental Cleanup
Recent heavy criticism from President Rodrigo Duterte has brought Boracay to media attention. The Philippines’ top official called the island a “cesspool” due to its poorly developed sewerage system and threatened to dynamite all illegal structures built across the popular tourist hub to save it from an environmental catastrophe.
His comments were prompted by the recommendation of the country’s tourism and environmental departments that the island should be closed for between six months and a year for an environmental cleanup.
Local media reported earlier today that President Duterte supports the recommendation and that the island will likely be shuttered for six months to have its environmental issues fixed. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources will be tasked with solving the island’s sewerage and garbage problems.
Boracay annually attracts two million visitors and generates PHP56 billion in tourism revenue. The island is particularly popular with wealthy tourists from around the Asia-Pacific region. In 2016, it upgraded its airport by extending its runaway to meet the growing demand for easier and quicker access to the island.
Galaxy has recently said that the airport upgrades as well as Boracay’s general popularity among tourists from the region were some of the main reasons why it has sought to extend its footprint to the island.
