$15-B Tourism City to create jobs for Pinoys

MANILA, Philippines – Amid strong opposition from some members of the Catholic Church to the $15-billion (P600 billion) Bagong Nayong Pilipino-Manila Bay Tourism City, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) recently said the project would prevent millions of Filipino workers from leaving the country to seek high-paying jobs abroad.

Pagcor chairman and chief executive officer Efraim Genuino said they have plans of replicating the integrated leisure and entertainment complex, but in smaller scale, in other parts of the country, such as Subic and Cebu, to spur growth in these places as well.

The state-run corporation said the Tourism City is expected to provide 250,000 jobs for Filipinos nationwide in the first phase alone, besides boosting foreign tourist arrivals by over one million every year and increasing the government’s income through lease payments and tax revenues.

The Las Vegas-style casino and tourism complex will rise on 90 hectares of reclaimed land in Parañaque City, fronting the Manila Bay.

Genuino said employment opportunities are not limited to residents of Metro Manila alone but all over the country.  – Helen Flores