Church, biz group nix casino in Boracay

By Jennifer P. Rendon

The Catholic church and a business group have joined forces in opposing the revival of casino operations in Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan.

The Diocese of Kalibo issued a statement declaring that they are against casino and gambling on the island.

On the other hand, the Boracay Foundation, Inc. said that their stand did not change – they still oppose casino operations in the island.

Dionisio Salme, BFI chairman, on Sunday briefly said, “the board agreed to affirm the 2018 BFI strong stand against additional operation of casino in the island with additional recommendations.”

On April 3, 2018, the BFI issued a statement suggesting that casino proponents could relocate their projects to mainland of Malay.

The statement was issued following reports that Macao-based casino operator Galaxy Entertainment Group (GEG) and Leisure Resorts World Corp. (LRWC), GEG’s Philippine-based partner, would construct a casino and resort in Barangay Manoc-Manoc.

The BFI, then headed by Malay Sangguniang Bayan Member Nenette Aguirre-Graf, said “the island’s infrastructure can no longer cope with the demands of existing developments. Surely, adding big projects such as casinos will definitely bring additional load to our public services and infrastructure—which we obviously know are already inadequate.”

Until now, Graf’s stand did not change.

After President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive in August 2021 to allow casinos in Boracay Island, she said that she personally opposed opening Boracay to casinos.

“I believe Boracay is not for people (gamblers) because it has always been promoted as a family destination, a wholesome resort island. So, why change its image?” she said.

Graf also believed that “casinos are always synonymous to criminality, drugs, prostitution, money laundering, and displacement of the community, among others.”

Duterte had said that he hates gambling, but he was forced to allow gambling in the island-resort as he needs money to fund COVID-19 responses.

 

‘GOD’S GIFT TO AKLAN’

In a pastoral letter entitled “An Appeal for our People and Boracay,” Bishop Jose Corazon Tala-oc of the Diocese of Kalibo said that he is appealing to Duterte on behalf of the people of Boracay to stop the casino project.

“Boracay is God’s gift to Aklan and to the whole world. It has become a family destination, a venue for educational advancement and entrepreneurship. It offers a wider value for employment, good source of livelihood for our people and revenue for the government. There is so much that Boracay can offer because it is already a paradise.”

“But why do we need to put up a gambling casino?” he added.

Tala-oc noted that gambling is a game of chance which torments a culture contrary to the demands of sound reason.

“This is contrary to the nature of the human person whose inherent dignity precisely comes from the use of one’s intellect and free will. Gambling promotes not only indolence but also dependence, contrary to the work and industry for purple to earn their living and contribute to the economic development of their community,” he said.

Tala-oc also stressed that gambling progressively creates first the habit, then the vice, and ultimately the addiction to the game of chance.

“This gradual takeover of the human psyche by gambling is a big personal liability that can become no less than socio-affective disorder. It will slowly weaken and eventually destroy the moral fiber of the people,” he said.

As he declared the Catholic church’s strong objection, Tala-of also appealed to the leaders of Aklan not to allow “gambling casino that will destroy our cherished land.”

He also called on all priests of Diocese of Kalibo, together with the Parish Pastoral Councils, lay organizations, movements, associations, and societies, to form discerning groups that would oppose the casino and gambling operations in Boracay.

Following Duterte’s announcement of the revival of casino operations, the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF) has assured that casino operations “will be in accordance with existing laws and that each line agency will continue carrying out the respective mandates with the goal of ensuring the environmental sustainability of the island.”

The BIATF added that “all businesses are reminded to submit to the requirements and accreditation processes, as the BIATF will practice due diligence to ensure that only those who are compliant will be issued the necessary permits.”

“In line with the President’s latest pronouncement that casinos will now be allowed to operate in Boracay Island to augment government funds, the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force, chaired by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and co-chaired by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Department of Tourism (DOT) will carry out the necessary steps towards the direction.”

The local government of Malay, Aklan has earlier said they see nothing wrong against allowing casinos to operate in Boracay Island.

Malay acting Mayor Frolibar Bautista said that they understood the logic behind the lifting of the casino ban, which is to help the government raise funds for its Covid-19 response.

On top of that, the LGU where the casino is located will be entitled to 5 percent of its proceeds from the casino income.

That amount, Bautista said, could help in the town’s income-generating efforts, especially that the pandemic has taken a toll on Boracay tourism industry.

But others claimed that the Boracay casino operations could be related to next year’s elections to raise more campaign funds.