Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte cancels Boracay casino plan

This week, Galaxy Entertainment Group Limited has seen a $500 million cut to its plan to build a 1,000-room integrated casino resort on Boracay. The cut was derived from Duterte's approval of recommendations from the Department of Tourism and the Department of Interior and Local Government to close the 2,550-acre island to tourism for six months from April 26 for upgrades to the island's sewage system.

“My orders were to clean it up so when it’s being cleaned, it’s closed,” Duterte reportedly told the Philippine Daily Enquirer earlier today in advance of leaving for a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. “There’s one way in, one way out.”

After these essential works have been carried out, the controversial Duterte reportedly told the newspaper that the island located some 196 miles south of Manila is to be designated as a ‘land reform area’ with local farmers being gifted their own plots.

“It’s going to be a land reform area for the Filipinos,” 73-year-old Duterte reportedly told the Philippine Daily Enquirer. “Consider Boracay a land reform area. I will give it to the farmers; to the Filipino first.”

Galaxy Entertainment Group Limited had earlier received a provisional license for its Boracay project from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation regulator and had hoped to begin welcoming guests as early as 2021. But, Duterte reportedly declared that he had known nothing about this plan and did not believe that such a venue would benefit locals.

“Why would I give you a casino there,” Duterte reportedly told the newspaper. “What will the Filipinos get out of it? Give it to the people who need it most. That is an announcement. It will be a land reform area. Period. There is no plan to build a casino there. Stop already because there are too many. There’s a casino here, a casino there.”

The Philippine Daily Enquirer reported that Duterte moreover detailed that he would designate Boracay as being in a ‘state of calamity’ and launch a program to supply locals with farming equipment and financial aid.

“Now if you are asking about financial help, I am going to sign a proclamation of calamity and we can make available about $38.42 million in assistance but this will only be for the poor Filipinos,” Duterte reportedly told the newspaper. “I will not spend a single cent on the inns there, hotel owners or motels. And for the beautiful houses, do not expect me to pay anything.”