AUTHORITIES assured that Boracay will operate without a casino after its reopening Friday, October 26.
The Department of Justice (DOJ), though, recommended the issuance of an executive order (EO) for the "no casino" policy in Boracay to be implemented strictly.
The island was reopened to tourists on Friday after a six-month rehabilitation. About 157 accommodation establishments were allowed to accept visitors.
Local Government Officer-in-Charge Eduardo Año said in a press briefing that the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) has ordered the cancellation of permits of establishments operating casinos in the island.
"The President (Rodrigo Duterte) gave specific instructions to me that no casino shall be operating even the existing ones. We requested Pagcor Chair Andrea Domingo to cancel the franchise and permit of these existing casinos," Año said.
He added that Domingo issued a cease and desist order on October 22.
"We can say to all of you, no casino is now existing in Boracay Island and we intend to implement that continuously," he added.
DOJ Secretary Menardo Guevarra saw the need, however, for the issuance of an EO that "will guide not only the current administration but also for a longer term the matter of implementing a policy of no casinos in Boracay."
He said several options have been considered when it comes to implementing Duterte's order not to allow a casino from operating in Boracay, but the DOJ is recommending the issuance of the EO to maintain the concept of the island as a place for family-oriented activities, not for gambling.
"Dahil ang konsepto ng Boracay is a family and tipong family-oriented activity and not meant for foreigners or tourists who will come to Boracay not to enjoy the place but to engage in gambling," Guevarra said.
As to the existing casinos in the island, Guevarra said their franchises are "revocable anytime."
"A franchise, whether provisional or permanent, is revocable at any time, because that is a privilege granted by the state...But first thing to be done is the issuance of an EO," he said.
Officials and stakeholders also committed on Friday, October 26, to bolster sustainable tourism in the island.
“The reopening of Boracay is not just the culmination of our journey on sustainable tourism. Together, let us ensure that future generations, our children, our children’s children will still say that it’s more fun in the Philippines,” Department of Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said.
She said the tourism department will be sustaining the gains made during the six-month island closure, adding that “other countries were impressed with what we have done.”
Aklan Governor Florencio Miraflores, meanwhile, said “sacrifices had to be made” during the shutdown, and they were all “worth it.”
“The past six months have been a difficult time for Aklan. The impact has been huge. But that's now behind us,” he said.
The Boracay Inter-agency Task Force has vowed to strengthen the implementation of environmental ordinances that will boost sustainable tourism in the island.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Roy Cimatu said the task force is continuously accepting applications for compliance of hotels and resorts that are not yet accredited.
Boracay was closed to tourists on April 26 after Duterte dubbed it as a "cesspool" and ordered its full rehabilitation to address its environment-related problems. (LMY/With PNA/SunStar Philippines)