IF THE proponent of the P18-billion Cebu Integrated Resort on Kawit Island in the South Road Properties (SRP) pushes through with development, it will violate a directive of President Rodrigo Duterte.

In a news conference last Aug. 9, Councilor Joel Garganera said that Universal Hotels and Resorts Inc. (UHRI) should rethink its project.

“Are they willing to start on the wrong foot? Ang ilang come-on diha is the (Their come-on is the) casino but the President just announced that there will be no more new casino,” he said.

In the same news conference, Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella said there are also legal reasons why a casino should not be build on Kawit Island.

Labella said Kawit Island was donated by the Department of Health (DOH) 7, which set a limitation that a casino should not be built there.

The City Government and DOH 7 had signed a memorandum of agreement in 2007 covering the donation of a 20,000-square-meter lot in the SRP and transferring the administration of Kawit Island to the local government.

Kawit Island was later integrated in the 300-hectare SRP.

“The President hates gambling. If we open another casino here, it will become a breeding ground for other forms of crimes like illegal drugs or prostitution,” Labella said.

Earlier, Duterte said the government would stop issuing licenses for new casinos after the controversial deal with Nayong Pilipino Foundation.

But Francisco “Bimbo” Fernandez, executive assistant of Mayor Tomas Osmeña, said the UHRI already applied for permits with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) for its casino operation long before the deal with the City was approved.

“The pronouncement of President Duterte was after UHRI applied and was approved by Pagcor, so they will not be covered by the order,” Fernandez said. (RVC)