"The timing is not right for a casino in Boracay"

Last March 20th, the Leisure & Resorts World Corporation confirmed its subsidiary, GEG, had acquired 23 hectares of land in Boracay's Barangay Manoc-Manoc, which is located opposite the white beach often visited by tourists. News of the casino came as Boracay stakeholders protest the proposed six-month closure of Boracay recommended by the interagency task force.

In this context, Interior Officer-in-Charge and Boracay interagency task force member Eduardo Año expressed his discontent with the plans, further adding: "I think the timing is not right, and our task force has not been consulted on the topic," he said. On Monday, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Assistant Secretary for Plans and Programs Epimaco Densing III also articulated he was "against" putting up the said casino.

Tourism Congress of the Philippines Jose Clemente III said they are requesting a phase-by-phase rehabilitation of the island instead. "What we have been requesting for since the beginning, is if it's possible to do a phase by phase rehabilitation of the island because total closure of the island will really cause a lot of headaches not only for stakeholders but also for the people working there and the tourism industry," said Clemente.

The proposal of a shutdown has sparked concerns over the the loss of income for workers who have come to depend on the island for their livelihood. Clemente had earlier warned some 36,000 people may lose their jobs if Boracay is declared off-limits. Densing, meanwhile, has also pegged possible losses in revenue between P18 to P20 billion. Boracay earned P56 billion in revenues in 2017 alone.

Año, however, emphasized Boracay also needs to have a "natural healing" period for nature to rehabilitate itself. "Everyone is making a sacrifice. I think everyone should own the responsibility and if we can do it in six months, why not? If we can do it in just two months, then why not?" he added.

He said the recommendation has been sent to President Rodrigo Duterte's office, but is still pending Duterte's approval. "The recommendation is already in his office so we will wait for his formal announcement, and of course the final decision will be up to him," Año said.

Clemente, meanwhile, said while they would prefer a phase-by-phase rehabilitation of the island, if Boracay needs to be closed, then they may just need to help with the process. "If it really needs to be closed, then what can we do. We'll just help with the rehabilitation," Clemente said. Last year, more than two million tourists visited the island, according to Malay Municipal Tourism office records.