The government executive had been very vocal against the construction of the casino resort on the island being developed by Macau-based Galaxy Entertainment Group and its local partner Leisure & Resorts World Corp. (LRWC).
The ongoing controversy over the closure of Boracay island just got more contentious after the developer of a 23-hectare, US$500-million casino resort on the island barred Philippine Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu from inspecting the property last week.
Cimatu, who has spearheaded the initiative to shut down Boracay for a six-month rehabilitation, was denied entry by security guards at the project site “upon orders".
The government executive had been very vocal against the construction of the casino resort on the island being developed by Macau-based Galaxy Entertainment Group and its local partner Leisure & Resorts World Corp. (LRWC).
Cimatu later said he was “not surprised” that he was denied entry to the project site. But he explained that the project would require an environmental clearance certificate (ECC) from his agency, particularly because the project appeared to be located in “rocky formations” in Sitio Sugud, Barangay Manoc-Manoc of the island.
He also reiterated his position that he was against the construction of the casino resort in Boracay and that he preferred Galaxy Entertainment and other investors for that matter to build their projects outside the shuttered holiday island.
“Not in Boracay. They can look elsewhere. They can build on the mainland,” Cimatu said.
But Galaxy and LRWC have not shown signs of backing down despite an earlier pronouncement from President Rodrigo Duterte himself that no casinos would be allowed on Boracay.
The developers continue to acquire land on Boracay. They also denied the statement of the Department of Tourism (DOT) that they had abandoned the project.
The project was granted a license by state gaming agency Pagcor and given a provisional permit.
However, actual construction will depend on whether the project can get the building permits from the local government of Malay in Aklan province—where Boracay island is located—and, more importantly, if it will be issued the ECC by the Environment department.