BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental — The company behind the planned development of a casino in Boracay Island in Aklan said it is in talks with its Chinese partner to put the project back on track.
Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, founder of DigiPlus Interactive Corp., formerly Leisure and Resorts World Corp. (LRWC), told reporters on the sidelines of the opening of the MassKaNamit Food Festival here over the weekend, the company remains optimistic about the completion of the project.
The project hits snag when the Duterte administration imposed a moratorium on new casino developments on the island.
Benitez left LRWC following his election as Bacolod mayor last year.
In 2018, LRWC Chinese partner Macau’s Galaxy Entertainment Group announced plans to develop a $500 million casino in a 24-hectare property, the last remaining large consolidated areas in Boracay.
The project secured a provisional license from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.
Benitez expressed hope the current administration would approve the project.
“I think (the Marcos administration) understand(s) the value of bringing a world-class (casino) operator to the Philippines. (Casinos) are bringing in tourism from outside and that’s what we are after. Let us not look at it from a local tourism perspective, let us look at it from international tourism perspective since that is where resources are, the dollars are…,” Benitez said.
However, Benitez said the Galaxy Group remains “iffy” to fully commit again to the project following its experience in the past.
Benitez said the main challenge for the project is providing the partner company with a “comfort level” that is “high enough” to return in the Philippines.
