Press Release
March 22, 2018

NANCY QUESTIONS RELEASE OF LICENSE TO CASINO OPERATOR
...reiterates call for moratorium on new constructions in Boracay

Senator Nancy Binay questioned the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp's (PAGCOR) release of provisional license to operate to a mega-casino in Boracay despite the planned closure of the island to give way to its massive cleanup and rehabilitation.

On Wednesday (March 20), PAGCOR signed the provisional license for the $500-million integrated casino-resort of Leisure and Resorts World Corp. (LRWC) and its foreign partner Galaxy Entertainment Group.

"It would have been prudent if they deferred muna. Kasi nirerehabilitate natin ang Boracay and isa sa mga tinatanong ko is what is the carrying capacity of the island?" Binay said.

"Tapos in spite of the pressing problems in Boracay, may maririnig ka na may idadagdag nanaman tayo na facility na baka hindi kaya ng isla," she added.

Binay said she is opposed to building the casino in Boracay and reiterated her stand to implement a moratorium on new constructions in the island.

"A one year total closure may not be the best solution for the island and its locals. So ang posisyon ko is instead of closure moratorium muna tayo on new constructions," Binay said.

Aside from Galaxy, DoubleDragon Properties Corp. is scheduled to build in Boracay the "biggest" hotel in the country with more than 1,000 rooms.

"A phase-by-phase rehabilitation where government can strictly enforce the law and at the same time implement the needed corrective measures could be the better option for Boracay," she added.

Binay also said Sen. Cynthia Villar will call another senate hearing on Boracay and that she plans to ask the position of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Tourism (DOT) on the planned construction.

The legislator said that the environment department should closely study the plans and the impact of another large-scale infrastructure on the island's land use and environment.

She also called on Boracay stakeholders to closely monitor and participate in Galaxy's permitting process, specifically in the crafting of the environmental impact statement (EIS) and the conduct of the necessary consultations for the issuance of an environmental clearance certificate (ECC).

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