P200-M gaming, entertainment facility eyed in QC

MANILA, Philippines - A private company is pushing a project to set up a state-of-the art amusement center in West Triangle in Quezon City.

DCP Managers Inc. (DCPMI) said roughly P200 million had been earmarked for this entertainment and gaming facility in partnership with Great Eastern Hotel Inc. (GEHI).

The project is envisioned to be a Las Vegas and/or Macau-type amusement environment with fully electronic gaming gizmo. It would also include urbane entertainment podium, sound system, interior and portico with elegant lightings, and a bistro and café.

DCPMI president and CEO Marla David said the proposal is aligned with efforts to pursue inclusive growth within the West Triangle area.

“This project proposal is still subject to receipt of licensure and all required regulatory approvals both from the national and local government,” David said.

Project partners DCPMI and GEHI said if the project pushes through, it would hopefully become the first-ever globally competitive facility and an economic driver of tourism in Quezon City.

David also ointed out that this project would provide employment and revenue for the local and National Government.

About 100 jobs or 20 percent should come from the concerned community.

The project is seen to increase the barangay’s share on internal revenue allotment (IRA) which will possibly reach 200 percent.

DCPMI is also optimistic that this would help increase local and foreign tourism and possibly play a significant role in the National Government’s target of six million tourists by end of 2016.

The company said that with this project, businesses within the surroundings of Quezon Avenue will reap economic benefit and revert to its heyday as the center of commerce since it could also lure more foreign investments.

Information drive have already been launched specifically among the neighborhoods of West Triangle.

“True to our mission, we undertake to unswervingly become ethically responsible stakeholders. As we manifest our high regard to the community where we belong, we distributed last week the initial information on what our presence would bring to our community. As an entertainment and gaming facility provider, our position is apparent as to how we would be beneficial to the neighborhood where growth and progress is inevitable – we advocate a secured and safe community thereby ensuring an inclusive growth,” David and Great Eastern chairman and CEO Naty Ng said in a letter.

The company said that to ensure safety and security in the community they would provide improvements, gadgets and personnel. “This would in turn ensure that growth is sustained.”

There would be 40 lamp posts to be installed, increasing the wattage of the existing street posts and the deployment of 20-security personnel to man the village in a 24-hour basis and who would be equipped with two-way radio and two motorcycles with sidecar roving patrol and a passenger multicab.

To be also installed is a CCTV system with 20 strategically located cameras that would aid the security personnel in monitoring movement of possible offenders.

Another part of the safety measures to be implemented would be three rumble strips among major thoroughfares to remind motorists of defensive and safe driving.