In a telephone interview, Atienza told The STAR the operators of the Jumbo Kingdom establishment "applied for a permit for a floating restaurant, contrary to persistent rumors that it is a floating casino. This is unfounded and it is not true."
Atienza said it was unfair to the operators of the floating restaurant and to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) that they are being accused of plotting to operate a floating casino.
He is concerned that the negative publicity generated by the issue would repel possible investors. "We do not want to discourage investment," Atienza said, adding that top tourist destinations in Asia, such as Shanghai, China, have their own floating restaurants.
The Manila city government issued a one-year permit to the Jumbo Kingdom to operate a floating restaurant three weeks ago.
Atienza promised the city government would not allow Jumbo Kingdom’s management to violate the conditions specified in the permit.
Should the city government learn that gambling is being permitted on the floating restaurant premises, it will immediately revoke the permit and order the restaurant’s closure, he said.
In the meantime, however, as the ship restaurant has yet to begin operating and no violation of the permit provisions have been committed, Atienza said he welcomes the opening of Jumbo Kingdom, which is docked at the wharf near the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) complex.
"The floating restaurant would add excitement to the bay area," he said. "It would be good for the city."
He earlier said he had hoped the Jumbo Kingdom management would begin operations last week, during the Inter-Parliamentary Union general assembly in Manila, so that IPU delegates could dine on board the ship. The IPU conference began on April 3 and ended April 8.
Jumbo Kingdom is reportedly owned by Macau gambling magnate Stanley Ho. The ship was first brought to Manila Bay from Hong Kong harbor in 2000, during the term of former President Joseph Estrada and was previously called the Jumbo Palace.