Foreigners-only gaming proposed in Boracay

Boracay Island, Aklan—The municipal council of Malay in Aklan, which has jurisdiction over Boracay island, has asked President Benigno Aquino III to allow gambling ventures limited to foreigners on the island-resort.

In a resolution, the council requested the President and Philippine Amusement Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) to authorize the establishment and operation of “foreign tourist-only gaming” on the 1,032-hectare island.

Allowing the gaming ventures can raise revenues that can augment the delivery of basic services and respond to the needs of their constituents, the officials said.

“We believe that there is a need to encourage new activities and attractions in Boracay like legal forms of gaming to enhance its appeal and attractiveness to foreign tourists and pull in tourist dollars and keep it ahead of its competition,” they said.

In a separate resolution, the council endorsed the application of Crown Regency Resort & Convention Center to be a venue of a Pagcor-authorized “junket operation” in Boracay. Junket operations are preorganized gambling tournaments for foreign players.

The council earlier this year also passed a resolution endorsing the proposal of Cariño Development Management Corp. (CDMC) to build a casino at the posh 120-ha Fairways and Bluewater Resort Golf and Country Club at the northern end of the island.

On the inauguration of the improved Caticlan airport in mainland Malay on Saturday, Mr. Aquino said in a speech that he was aware the casinos were not allowed in the area and Pagcor should not allow casinos there. But it was unclear whether the President was referring only to the airport complex or including Boracay.

But various sectors led by the Catholic Church and community leaders have been opposed to the moves and repeated attempts to put up the casinos.

They believe that allowing their operations would worsen social problems including alcoholism, prostitution and illegal drugs which can harm the image of the world-famous island.

The Diocese of Kalibo in 2003 and 2008 blocked plans for a casino to operate on the island.

In 2003, then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo shelved the plan of Pagcor to allow a casino to operate after it was met by protests.

The council said in its resolution that it is aware of the sentiments of some sectors in the community against the operation of casinos. It said it would set policies to ensure that the image of the island as a family-oriented tourist destination will be preserved.

The policies include the banning of gaming operations at beach front establishments and to strictly exclude locals and “walk-in players” even if they are foreign passport holders.

But Fr. Magloire Placer, Boracay parish priest, said the stand of the religious sector, including the Protestant churches and other critics, remained firm. “No to casino in Boracay,” Placer said in a text message to the Inquirer.

He said a continuous information campaign on Church teachings would be waged against the “culture of gambling” and other moral values that can strengthen families and communities.

The parish has also initiated a signature campaign against the casino plan, which has generated thousands of signatures.