Binay, Gatchalian question planned casino resort in Boracay amid looming shutdown

At least two senators on Monday questioned the planned construction of an integrated casino resort hotel in Boracay amid the government plan's to temporarily close the popular resort island for rehabilitation.

In an interview, Senator Nancy Binay asked if Boracay can still "absorb" the project, which will be spearheaded by Macau-based Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd. and its local partner Leisure and Resorts World Corp.

"Kaya pa ba ng Boracay i-absorb ang project ng Galaxy at saan ba itatayo 'yun? Anong capacity ng facility na itatayo?" Binay said.

She said it is the public's right and interest to know how the different agencies would proceed with the group's application for the necessary permits to operate and build on Boracay, which the government intends to shut down for up to a year to give way for its full rehabilitation.

President Rodrigo Duterte had earlier described Boracay as a "cesspool" because of its supposed poor sewerage system.

Binay said a six-month moratorium for construction will be imposed on the island starting June this year. She said the agencies should study Galaxy's plan and assess if the island resort will not be adversely affected by the project.

The legislator said the DENR should closely study 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).

"While I welcome all developments that will give our countrymen more economic opportunities, pero in the light of the issues hounding Boracay, dapat lamang na maging aktibo tayo upang maiwasan na mangyari ulit ang mga issues na hinaharap ng isla," Binay said.

"I also enjoin Galaxy as well as the DENR and DILG to be transparent in its dealings, especially in its application for permits and licenses. The Senate would also want to be informed of its compliance to existing laws and government issuances," she added.

Instead of closure, Binay said the government should instead implement a moratorium on new constructions.

"Ang call ko nga imbes na closure ay moratorium muna sa new construction. I-assess muna nila kung pwede pa bang magtayo o isasara ‘yung Boracay o kung kaya pa ng Boracay mag-absorb ng bagong structures. Baka in the long run hindi na dapat nagtatayo ng bagong building sa Boracay," she said.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian expressed similar concern and called on the government to reconsider allowing the construction of mega-facilities on the island amid the environmental woes being faced by Boracay.

"Definitely if we put up a bigger facility it will generate more people, so saan natin lalagay 'yung sewage system? Saan natin itatapon ‘yung basura? Paano 'yung traffic?" he said.

He said the issues should be addressed first before any plan to construct big facilities are approved.

"Hindi na kaya noong island ng ganun karaming facilities. Kulang talaga ang basic facilities such as a wastage facility. More people means more wastage, so we have to address that issue before anything else," Gatchalian said.

"I think Boracay is too small to put up a mega casino dahil kulang talaga 'yung disposal system. Long-term survival of Boracay will be sacrificed if we don’t do anything about it," he added.

On the other hand, Senator Cynthia Villar, chairperson of the Senate environment and natural resources committee, said as long as the new construction follows the law, she sees no problem with it.

"'Yung mga iligal ay huwag ituloy o gibain kasi naman 'yung iba [ay] nasa wetland, that is illegal. But if this casino will be built in a land that is legally theirsm eh ino-honor naman natin 'yung private ownership of property," she said.

Katrina Nepomuceno, vice president, corporate secretary and compliance officer at Leisure & Resorts World, said a subsidiary of LRWC has acquired approximately 23 hectares of land in Barangay Manoc-Manoc, Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan.

PAGCOR Chairperson Andrea Domingo earlier said they will be signing a contract with LRWC for their provisional license before the end of the month.

Galaxy Entertainment said last December that it would be investing as much as $500 million for the casino resort. —KBK, GMA News