Philippine casino waits for permit

Bloomberry’s Philippine casino at Quezon City hasn’t started ground breaking as it continues to await for the necessary permits.

Philippines.- Bloomberry Resorts continues to wait for necessary permits to start the ground breaking of its new Philippine casino. The company’s venue at Quezon City, outside Manila, is ready to begin construction work but can’t do so for regulatory reasons.

“The ground breaking and construction of Solaire North are subject to the securing of relevant permits before any construction begins.”

“The company, through its subsidiaries Bloomberry Resorts and Hotels Inc and Sureste Properties Inc, will proceed with the project once such permits have been secured,” the company added. “[Bloomberry is] currently working on the cost plan” for the project, they explained. Such plan should be completed “by the end of April to mid-May,” the company advanced.

PAGCOR’s take on the conflict

The Philippine casino project in Quezon City has been put in question by the local government, which has attempted to block it. However, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp (PAGCOR) criticised their intentions and said they have no right to regulate the industry, not even in their territory.

The regulator’s reaction comes after city Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte was clear about her intentions to make it hard for the company to profit from the venue: “Since the argument is it should be for tourism, it should cater only to tourists,” she told local news outlet the Inquirer. “We’ll really make it hard for Quezon City residents to go [inside] the casino.”

However, PAGCOR said they have no right to regulate the industry, but if they are against it they could just not issue the business permits they have signed.