Interior and Local Goverment Undersecretary for Barangay Affairs Martin Dino on Sunday said the issue on whether or not a casino should operate on Boracay island is best left to the judgment of the Deartment of Tourism and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.
“Ang pagpuna sa isyu ng casino sa Boracay ay dapat nanggagaling sa tourism o Pagcor. Kaming mga nasa DILG ay dapat inaatupag ang mga pagbabantay at paggabay sa mga lokal na opisyal kung sila ay talgang tumatalima sa kanilang mga tungkulin (The issue on casinos in Boracay should be discussed by the Department of Tourism or the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation. We in DILG are in charge of guiding and guarding the local officials if they really are doing their job well,” Dino explained.
The official’s remark came as another DILG Assistant Secretary for Plans and Program Epimaco Densing III commented on the issue last week which, Dino said, is basically an encroachment to other agency’s “turf.”
Any establishment, whether it be a casino or a hotel, may operate anywhere “provided they comply with all the laws and regulations, including environmental ones.”
“Kung magiging kapakipakinabang lalong lalo na sa mga mamayang naninirahan sa lugar na mabibigyan ng kabuhayan dahil sa pagtatayo ng mga hotel o casino, bakit hindi? Kung ang mga ito naman ay sumunod sa mga batas at regulasyon bago magtayo ng kanilang mga istraktura. (If it would be beneficial to the residents, why not? If they adhere to and abide by the laws and regulations of the land before they are built),” Dino explained.
He added that as DILG Usec for Barangay Affairs, he will go to Boracay on the scheduled date of closure on April 26 to personally seek a clarification from officials of three barangays that have jurisdiction over the island.
Dino said he wants to know if these officials committed lapses in the conduct of their mandate which led to the sorry state Boracay is in now.
And if the local officials would be found guilty of negligence, Dino said he would recommend their suspension or imprisonment.
“Frontline ang barangay officials partikular ang mga barangay captains. sila ang pumipirma at nagbibugay ng clearance sa mga pagpapatayo ng anumang istraktura sa kanilang nasasakupan. Pihadong may nag kapera sa kanila kaya dumami ang mga pagtatayo ng iligal na istraktura doon (Barangay officials paticularly the chairmen are frontliners. They are the ones who issue clearances for establishments in their area. It is possible that money changed hands),” Dino stressed.
