MANILA — Malacañang on Tuesday maintained that tourists and casinos are banned during the six-month closure of Boracay beginning April 26 this year.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque made this comment after Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said he would question the closure of Boracay, saying that there could be a deeper motive behind its shutdown.
“Boracay closed to tourists and no casinos in Boracay. Period,” Roque told Palace reporters.
Before leaving for the Boao Forum for Asia in Hainan, China on Sunday, President Rodrigo Duterte clarified that the purpose of his order was to allow the cleanup and rehabilitation of the famous tourist beach destination.
Duterte said he has no master plan for Boracay, which he recently described as “very dirty” and likened it to a “cesspool” due to its environmental problems.
“I don’t have master plan. I will clean it first because it is agricultural. So maybe, after that (cleanup), I’ll give the farmers. Put it under land reform and then I’ll give it to the farmers,” Duterte said.
The President had also said enough of construction of casinos in Boracay.
According to media reports, Macau casino giant Galaxy Entertainment and its Filipino partner, Leisure and Resorts World Corp., are planning to build the USD500-million integrated casino-resort on a 23-hectare property in Boracay Island.
In a Cabinet meeting last week, Duterte approved the recommendation to close Boracay to tourists. (PNA)
