(Eagle News)– President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, April 9, said there was no plan for a casino project in Boracay, adding the island would be placed under land reform and given to farmers after its 6-month rehabilitation.
The President made the revelation in a press conference prior to his departure for China at the Davao International Airport.
Duterte is slated to attend the Boao forum, a meeting of business leaders.
“Wala akong plano diyan na casino-casino. Tama na ‘yan kasi sobra na. Casino dito, casino doon,” he said.
‘Yung mga casino, who owns the casino? Hotels? Big ones? Who owns them? ‘Yung mga mayaman, pati mga dayo. Eh agricultural man (yung lupa), eh ‘di ibalik ko sa farmers..I-land reform ko lahat iyan,” he added.
The 6-month closure of Boracay for its rehabilitation will begin on April 26.
The move was done after an irate President Duterte described the island as a “cesspool.”
Macau casino operator Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd. and its local partner Leisure and Resorts World Corp. has said it would build a $500-million casino resort on the island, but has yet to submit requirements to the Department of Tourism and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for the same.