Despite opposition, proposed Boracay casino may soon get the nod

There is a big chance, despite strong opposition, that a casino may soon open in world-famous beach destination, Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan.

“The proposed casino may operate soon.  The proposal of a resort has been approved on second reading,” said Malay Town Councilor Rowen Aguirre in a text message.

With the approval, Aguirre said Boracay New Coast will soon get an endorsement from the Malay Town Council for its proposed casino operation.

Owned by Manila–based major property developer Megaworld, which has bought Fil-Estate’s Fairways and Bluewater resort in the northern tip of Boracay Boracay, Boracay New Coast  New Coast is reported to have proposed opening its proposed casino only to its own resort guests as well as visiting expatriates on the island.

Boracay New Coast is also reportedly securing a license to open its proposed casino in Boracay from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor).

For years and years, many proponents have tried, in vain, to put up a casino on Boracay Island. However, such moves have successfully been opposed by both the Church and local business here.

Specifically, Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Catholic Church Parish and Boracay Foundation Inc. (BFI) have strongly been against the opening of a casino or any organized gambling operation, for that matter, in Boracay.

However, observers here fear that this time, not even the Church and other anti-casino and organized gambling sectors in Boracay, will have a chance to hold back big money and the power of such influential property developers like Megaworld and their desire to finally introduce organized gambling on the island.

BIR targets tax-evading Boracay businesses

Government tax collectors are running after tax-evading businesses, including tourist service operators, in this island resort.
Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Aklan revenue district officer Eralen De Aro said they have received numerous complaints about businesses without BIR registration.
“We recently held a mapping in Boracay and we have validated the complaint,” said De Aro. “We will run after these tax evaders.”
Several resorts here are not paying the right taxes either, the bureau noted.
“We have been giving them chances to [pay their dues]. If they will not [pay], we will order their establishments closed,” De Aro stressed.
BIR-Aklan aims to collect P1.5 billion in taxes this year.

Church, biz group still vs casino

 There is no changing their minds.
The Catholic Church and a business group have expressed continued opposition to casino operations in this island resort.
Father Arnaldo Crisostomo said they received reports that a large business corporation here has revived its proposal to build a casino.
The corporation reportedly wants to operate a casino exclusively for its guests. Its proposal is pending at the Sanguniang Bayan of Malay.
“We continue to be vigilant and oppose casino operations in Boracay,” said Crisostomo.
For his part, Boracay Foundation, Inc. president Dionisio Salme stressed that they have been against any casino operation here./

Western Visayas fastest economic hub- DOE

BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan, April 14 (PNA)-- The Western Visayas region in Central Philippines is considered a fast growing economy, according to the Department of Energy (DOE).

This was bared by Engr. Wilfred Billena, president of the Panay-Guimaras Power Supply Consortium (PPSC) Saturday during the 25-year Electric Power Purchase Agreement (EPPA) signing. The signing of EPPA was meant to respond to the projected power demand in the next two to five years.

PPSC is an alliance of electric cooperatives in the Panay-Guimaras area for the purpose of negotiating more competitive prices through aggregation of power requirements.

"The DOE report still needs confirmation from the National Economic Development Authority (EDA). But we are confident of this reality," Billena said.

Major business developers in the country, many of whom were Chinese companies, are putting up their investments on tourism related businesses and business power outsourcing,

New tourism related business companies investing in the region includes Megaworld Corporation, Ayala Land, Double Dragon Properties, Gaisano Business Centers, among others.

Famous cliff-diving site defies closure order

A popular cliff-diving site in Buruanga, Aklan has defied a local government’s order for its permanent closure.
The Ariel’s Point management barred local government personnel tasked to enforce the order from entering the site on Thursday.
“We believe we have the legal right to prevent them from enforcing the order. The [order] was mere harassment,” said Ruby Luces, the diving site manager.
Buruanga mayor Quezon Labindao, who spearheaded the serving of the closure order, was also barred from entering the site.
Reporters were informed about the situation when tension between the site management and the order’s enforcers rose.
The enforcing team, comprising personnel from Bantay Dagat, Philippine National Police and Philippine Coast Guard, withdrew when reporters arrived.
About 68 guests — Malaysians, Singaporeans and other tourists — were present at the time.
The police confiscated one of Ariel’s Points tourist service boats for alleged violations.
But Luces refuted the police’s claim that the boat did not have a permit, insisting that they have acquired a permit from the Maritime Industry Authority.
The boat was later released without any penalty upon the Coast Guard’s advise.
“The police know that only the [Coast Guard] can confiscate our boats,” Luces stressed, “and the [Coast Guard] knows we have legitimate papers.”
Ariel’s Point continues to receive tourists as of press time./

Boracay resort filing libel rap vs Ted Failon

Boracay West Cove will file a libel charge against television news anchor Ted Failon, who has been critical of the resort’s operation.
“[Boracay] West Cove owner Crisostomo Aquino has instructed us to file the charge,” Manila-based counsel Dan Roxas said in a telephone interview.
Roxas revealed that the resort management was also studying a possible ethics complaint against the ABS-CBN prime-time news anchor.
Failon, the lawyer said, was seen using the sea ambulance owned by the local government here for his news coverage.
“There was no available sea ambulance in Boracay for a day recently because Failon used it,” Roxas said.
This reporter was still trying to reach Failon for comment as of press time.
The Court of Appeals upheld the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) cancellation of Boracay West Cove’s privilege to obtain a Forest Land Use Agreement for Tourism because the land where the resort was built was a forest reserve and a prohibited domain of the government.
It dismissed the resort’s motion for reconsideration for lack of merit.
“It’s an old issue,” Roxas said of the decision. “We still have a pending case with the Supreme Court and the Office of the DENR secretary. We await the final order.”

PCG-Caticlan attains zero sea incident goal during Holy Week

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)-Caticlan attained a zero sea incident goal in this resort island during the Holy Week.

Lt. Commander Jimmy Oliver Vingno of the PCG-Caticlan said they had implemented the necessary measures to ensure that both foreign and local tourists enjoyed their stay in Boracay.

"We wanted to thank the help of the local media who has actively participated in the call among tourists to be vigilant," Vingo said.

Among the security measures undertaken by the PCG-Caticlan include the deployment of security personnel in strategic areas in Boracay, and conducting operation against colorum boats, among others.

The Philippine National Police had also reported that the Holy Week observance in Boracay was peaceful.

The generally peaceful scenario in Boracay during Holy Week is important since Boracay will host the APEC conference this summer.