Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 2) — Some groups are again setting their eyes on building casinos in Boracay after President Rodrigo Duterte greenlit the operations on the island.
In a disclosure Thursday, property giant Megaworld said its parent company Alliance Global Group (AGI)—the holding firm of billionaire Andrew Tan—will push for the planned casino project inside the Boracay Newcoast development of Global Estate Resorts, Inc. (GERI).
“We will proceed with our casino project in Boracay Newcoast. We already have several hotels there and we are still building more,” Tan said in the disclosure.
“We are very hopeful that the tourism industry in this island will recover fast after the pandemic,” the tycoon added.
Casino and gaming firm Leisure and Resorts World Corp. (LRWC), in a separate filing, said it was “looking forward to the resumption of the discussions with Galaxy in view of the President’s go-signal for casino operation in Boracay.”
In 2017, LRWS and Galaxy bared their $500-million casino-resort project for the island.
The plan, however, faced a setback as Duterte ordered a halt on new casino operations in 2018.
READ: Duterte ends casino license ban — Pagcor chief
The Palace over the weekend said Duterte approved the operation of a casino on Boracay Island as a way to boost funds for COVID-19 response.
The country’s gaming regulator said the plans of Tan and Galaxy Entertainment have secured approvals from Duterte.
Detailed casino projects of the two groups have yet to be disclosed.
