Galaxy’s local partner buying more land in Boracay, local official says

MANILA, Philippines — A local government unit official in Boracay said the local partner of casino giant Galaxy Entertainment Group, which had initially been planning to build a casino on the island, is still acquiring properties in the area.

Rowen Aguirre, municipal executive assistant for Boracay affairs, on Thursday explained no construction on casinos or any other projects has begun as Leisure and Resorts World Corp. is still in the process of buying additional properties on the world-famous island.

“They have already acquired, I think, around 23 hectares in that area as of this time,” Aguirre told CNN’s "The Source".

“I've heard that they’re still in negotiations with several other property owners for additional acquisition,” he added.

Aguirre said the gaming firm LRWC previously bought 23 hectares of land in Sitio Sugod, Barangay Manoc-Manoc, located almost four kilometers away from the islan's Station 1.

The official said there was no objection to the casino project because Barangay Manoc-Manoc is still an underdeveloped area. He said the area is still mostly residential.

Town council did not object

He added that Sangguniang Bayan, which acts as the legislative body of the municipal government, already issued an endorsement or certificate of no objection for the casino operation. He said the endorsement is the first step to secure a license from Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

Last March, the gaming regulatory body signed a provisional license for Galaxy’s casino project.

The Department of Tourism previously said Galaxy is seeking others venue for the casino. It retracted its statement and said it was just asked if the abandonment plan was true and that, if it were, it would have been a welcome development.

READ: To build or not to build: Contradictory statements on Boracay casino plan

LRWC swiftly denied that it has abandoned the planned casino in Boracay and said it “continues to be in talks with its partner Galaxy Entertainment.”

The government is set to implement the closure of the island on April 26.