Boracay to become China province if Macau-style casino pushes through –
fisherfolk
Manila, Philippines – Reacting to the statement of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) that the $500-million integrated casino resort in Boracay will proceed, the activist fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA-Pilipinas) warned that it would be a prelude to transformation of the country into a province of China, which President Rodrigo Duterte had mentioned in earlier statement.
Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd. and its local partner Leisure Resorts World Corp. are seeking regulatory approval for the $300-$500 million casino project in the country’s top tourist island. Boracay Island is currently subjected to closure due to sewerage and waste management issue.
“Hindi malayong magkatotoo ang ‘birong pahayag’ ni Pangulong Duterte na magiging probinsya ng China ang Pilipinas kung matutuloy ang binabalak ng dayuhang developer na ito na magtayo ng world-class casino-resort sa isla ng Boracay. Nakakabahala dahil aalisin nga ang mga maliliit at Pilipinong-pag-aari na istruktura sa isla, papalitan naman ng mas malaki at dayuhang kumpanya, na nangangahulugan ng mas malaking polusyon at dumi sa karagatan. Di hamak na mas walang pakialam ang dayuhang kumpanyang ipapalit sa pangangalaga ng ating karagatan dahil ang gusto lamang nito ay kumita,” Fernando Hicap, PAMALAKAYA Chairperson said in a statement.
(“The transformation of the country into China province is likely to happen if the plan of this foreign-developer to construct a world-class casino-resort in Boracay will proceed. It is alarming because although small Filipino-owned structures will be removed, a bigger and foreign-owned developer will takeover, which is equivalent to bigger pollution in the sea. Foreign-owned corporations will be relatively inconsiderate in the protection of our marine resources because they only want to rake profit,”)
The fisherfolk group doubts the sincerity of the Duterte administration to rehabilitate the island when it is opening doors to a foreign developer who wants to convert our island into world-class casino hub.
“Hindi namin tinututulan ang rehabilitasyon ng Boracay, katunayan nga ay dapat dati pa ginawa ng pamahalaan ‘yan. Ngunit mas hindi namin papayagan kung may mga dayuhang kumpanya ang papasok at mandadambong sa ating likas na yaman at lalabag sa ating patrimonya sa ngalan ng kita,” Hicap, also former Anakpawis solon added.
(We do not object the rehabilitation of Boracay, it must have been done before. But we will not let a foreign company to enter and plunder our resources and violate our patrimony in the name of profit,”)
The fisherfolk group instead urged the government to prioritize the livelihood of the Filipinos who will be affected by the massive shutdown over the interest of giant developers. ###
