NCCA hands off on proposed casino for Army and Navy club

MANILA, Philippines - The National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) is keeping its hands off  the government’s plan to put up a casino at the historic Army and Navy Club, which was declared a heritage site.

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) is reportedly planning to open a casino at the Army and Navy Club building in Manila.

“Rumors that a casino will be put up at the Army and Navy Club are not new,” NCCA lawyer Trixie Cruz-Angeles said yesterday.

She said the NCCA is leaving the matter to the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), which has supervision over the Army and Navy Club.

Reports said the government-run Pagcor is set to start operating the casino in January 2017.

Sources said there is also a plan to extend the casino operations to Museo Pambata, which is housed in the former Elks Club building, another national historical landmark.

The Army and Navy Club building is owned by the city government of Manila.

The city government reportedly leased the property to Oceanville Hotel and Spa Corp., which in turn sub-leased it to Vanderwood Management Corp., which leased part of the property to PAGCOR.

The Army and Navy Club was considered the first American social club in the Philippines. It was declared a  national historical landmark by the NHCP in 1991.