As developers get ready to pursue plans to build casinos in Boracay, a House leader has appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to reconsider his directive to allow casino operations in the country’s top tourist destination.
In a letter addressed to the President received by Malacañang on September 3, Deputy Speaker Benny Abante Jr. urged the President “to protect the crown jewel of Philippine tourism.”
The solon from Manila pointed out that in April 2018, out of his concern for the welfare of Boracay and its residents, the President “ordered the temporary closure of the island to tourists to allow the government to address environmental issues that had plagued the popular tourist destination for years.”
“Mr. President, people from here and all over the world go to Boracay for its beaches, not baccarat; they flock to the island for peace and tranquility, not poker tournaments,” stressed the lawmaker.
“This representation humbly appeals to Your Excellency to save Boracay again––by keeping it gambling-free and by preventing it from becoming a cesspool of casinos.”
The solon from Manila pointed out that in April 2018, out of his concern for the welfare of Boracay and its residents, the President “ordered the temporary closure of the island to tourists to allow the government to address environmental issues that had plagued the popular tourist destination for years.”
“Because of this timely intervention, the government was able to take significant steps to reverse the abuse and neglect that had turned the island into––as Your Excellency accurately and bluntly put it––a cesspool,” said Abante in his letter.
The legislator told the President that he recognizes the need to raise government revenues “as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has stretched our financial resources and––due to its adverse effects on the economy––has negatively impacted government revenue streams.”
“This representation humbly appeals to Your Excellency to save Boracay again––by keeping it gambling-free and by preventing it from becoming a cesspool of casinos.”
Abante emphasized, however, “that opening Boracay to gambling is not the answer.”
The Deputy Speaker provided the President with pre-pandemic data that showed that the island already has the capacity to earns billions of pesos from inbound tourists.
“According to data from the Department of Tourism,” shared Abante, “in the first 10 months of 2019 tourism in Boracay generated a total of P49.86 billion in revenue due to its 1.74 million visitors. This figure is 151.76% greater than that of the same period in the preceding year.”
The figures, added Abante, shows the wisdom behind the temporary closure of Boracay and the potential it can earn from tourism alone.
