Casino just an 'amenity' of Boracay resort project, Rep. Benitez says

MANILA, Philippines — A lawmaker on Monday said there is no actual design yet for a Boracay casino project a company he founded is involved in, as it is still being developed.

Rep. Alfredo Benitez (Negros Occidental), founder of listed gaming company Leisure and Resorts World Corp., the local partner of Macau-based Galaxy Entertainment Group, said no construction is being done on land in Barangay Manoc-Manoc that LRWC bought.

"The plan is not done yet, because they want to make sure that it’s environmentally-compliant with the highest standards. Of course, experts need to be brought to the area first," the lawmaker said on GMA 7's "News To Go", adding that experts should look into endangered species that might be affected by the construction.

Benitez, who said he divested from LRWC when he entered Congress, said that as far as he knows the LRWC’s joint venture agreement with Macau-based Galaxy is an integrated resort and casino. He confirmed that the LRWC already acquired land in Boracay.

Benitez was with Galaxy executives when they paid a courtesty call on President Rodrigo Duterte in Malacañan Palace in December. The executives, who were also accompanied by Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corp. CEO Andrea Domingo and Tourism Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo, reportedly assured the president that the casino project would observe environmental guidelines and standards.

READ: Duterte: 'The billionaires' only thought Boracay casino was allowed

Benitez clarified that the casino is just an “amenity” of the project and said it is intended for foreign tourists.

Benitez also said that the integrated resort project has nothing to do with the Boracay closure.

Two months after courtesy call by Galaxy executives, Duterte threatened to shut down Boracay, citing that it has become a cesspool.

Talk of the closure came alongside news that Pagcor had granted Galaxy a provisional license for the Boracay casino project. Duterte disavowed knowledge of the plan to build a casino on the island despite a Palace spokesman earlier defending the project. 

Boracay is now closed to tourists. The closure will be for six months.