Western Visayas bishops oppose Boracay casino operations

PICTURE-PERFECT The sunset viewed from the beach of Boracay, such as this one captured in a photo on Sept. 21, is one of the many natural attractions that have been drawing tourists yearly to the resort island. —JACK JARILLA

ILOILO CITY, Iloilo, Philippines — Seven Catholic bishops and a diocesan administrator in Western Visayas and Romblon have collectively aired their opposition against the operation of casinos and gambling on Boracay Island.

In a collegial pastoral letter dated Oct. 4, the Church leaders expressed support for Kalibo Bishop Jose Corazon Tala-oc who has led the Church’s campaign in Aklan province to oppose putting up casinos in Boracay.

They also appealed to public officials “to hear our people’s plea to keep Boracay [a] clean, safe, child- and family-friendly island to visit and to spend precious quality time with our loved ones.”

‘Natural, God-given’

The pastoral letter was issued by Archbishop Jose Romeo Lazo of Jaro in Iloilo; Bishops Tala-oc, Patricio Buzon (Bacolod), Gerardo Alminaza (San Carlos), Louie Galbines (Kabankalan), Marvyn Maceda (San Jose) and Narciso Abellana (Romblon); and Msgr. Cyril Villareal, administrator of the Archdiocese of Capiz.

The rare joint pastoral statement was apparently in response to President Duterte’s announcement on Aug. 27 allowing casinos to operate on the island to help generate funds for the government’s COVID-19 pandemic response.

The President’s reversal of his 2018 stance prohibiting casinos on the island resort has drawn widespread opposition from Aklanons, including from the Diocese of Kalibo, the provincial government and residents of Boracay.

The Aklan provincial board last week passed a resolution appealing to the President to reconsider his decision to allow casinos on the island.

The Church leaders said they appreciated the efforts of the government to restore “the natural, God-given wonders of Boracay Island that make it famous here and abroad.”

Boracay Island attracted 2.034 million tourists and generated P62.31 billion in revenues in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic. The island is just starting to recover from the pandemic-induced restrictions but would not need casinos to bring back leisure travelers, business owners and residents have said.

The Church leaders also stressed they were not against development but pointed out that the development should be “both sustainable and integral, a development that is authentically just and for the common good.”

“Having the gambling casinos in Boracay will not only divert and distract visitors from the true beauty and value of this most cherished island but will also pave the way for destructive lifestyles and habits that will significantly alter and destroy the treasured values, culture and life of the community. Needless to ask, how many individuals and families have been destroyed because of gambling?” the Church leaders said.