Macau (MNA) – Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte stated this Monday to the country’s press he was against the Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd. (GEG) US$500 million integrated resort project to be developed in Boracay and vowed to give area in the island to farmers, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported.
The local gaming operator announced last week that it had obtained a provisional gaming license from the Philippines Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) to develop and run a casino resort with its local partner Leisure & Resorts World Corp. (LRWC).
However, after announcing the island would be closed to tourism for a six-month period for cleaning, President Duterte revealed that he plans to enforce a “land reform” in the island and provide land to farmers.
“Consider Boracay a land reform area. I will give it to the farmers, to the Filipino first […] Why would I give you a casino there? What will the Filipinos get out of it?” the President said according to the Inquirer.
According to the Filipino head of government the country’s law defined Boracay as a forestal and agricultural land, with Duterte repeatedly denying wanting to develop a casino in the island.
Therefore he stated to be planning to issue a proclamation making the entire Boracay a land reform area and provide farming equipment to local farmers.
