by Atty.Ronquillo C. Tolentino
Amidst stiff opposition by Boracay residents and the Diocese of Kalibo, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) twice put aside the plan to establish a casino in Boracay notwithstanding the same position now aired by Pagcor, nay, Sangguniang Bayan of Malay, that earnings could help in the easy financing of development projects on the island tourist destination.
It was on August 31, 2003 when PAGCOR set aside the plan when the former president categorically declared that she was against it.
As a matter of recollection, then Kalibo Bishop Gabriel V. Reyes in his December 10, 2002 letter to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo with attached letters from parish priests and member of the pastoral councils in the Diocese of Aklan sought the president to stop the plan to put up a casino citing the harmful effects of the proposed casino.
Reyes stressed in his October 22, 2002 pastoral letter that casinos are the cause of the impoverishment and breaking up of families. “Casino promote enslavement or addiction to the passion of gambling. They weaken the moral strength of people”, Reyes emphasized.
Reyes added that Boracay is God’s gift to Aklan and the whole world. “Until now it is a family resort frequented and enjoyed by all. It is still wholesome. Let us help at that way”. Reyes concluded.
When the plans to put up casino in Boracay again surfaced in 2008, Kalibo Bishop Jose Romeo Lazo rejected the plan again.
Lazo stressed that Boracay is a natural treasure of the Aklanons and the Filipino people. “We are for a family-oriented and wholesome island resort and we therefore want a drug-free and gambling-free Boracay”, Lazo added.
The 2008 plan of Pagcor again failed. This time, plan is being resuscitated with the help of Malay’s Sangguniang Bayan.
Business organizations in Boracay, specifically the Boracay Foundation, Inc. (BFI) had declared that it is opposed to the putting up of a casino in Boracay.
An email sent me by a friend from New Jersey, USA had stated that the casino proposal is being opposed in the USA. While he did not specify whether the opposition came from Aklanons in the Unites States, he requested me to see and read certain opposition statements of the Community Organization based at Boston Massachusetts on the facebook account One Million Filipinos Against Casino in Boracay.
I am only quoting three of the many opposition statements, thus : “For the last 2 decades, we have seen the pristine island of Boracay degrade. To make things worse, there are plans to set up 3 or more casinos in Boracay. We already know the social implications of having a Casino within residential areas. Though this effort is about uniting a million voices to stop this travesty, it is also a trumpet call to warn the politicians and businessmen that the people are watching and listening. We will not let our beautiful land be raped for some short terms financial gain. It stops now. Let our voices be heard!”
“To unite one million voices shouting : No Casinos in Boracay.
“Casino would be sealing Boracay’s fate to complete degradation. There is still a chance to rehabilitate the situation in Boracay. Time to act now. Please invite your friends to this page. We have a long way to go but with God’s help we will be a voice to be heard.”
“There are millions of Filipinos against the opening of casinos in Boracay. Please help us stop the abuse of both the people and the island. If we can’t take care of this small 7km island, how can we take care of the rest of 7,000 islands. For whatever is given to us, we will be held accountable by God.”
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