A Cebu City government official told local media on Monday that a proposed Php18 billion (US$356 million) integrated resort would proceed with its upcoming ground-breaking ceremony this Saturday in defiance of President Rodrigo Duterte’s apparent ban on new casinos.
The IR, to be built on Kawit Island by Universal Hotels and Resorts Inc and JG Summit Holdings, will include a casino, 1,000 hotel rooms, a convention center, restaurants and more.
Speaking to reporters, Cebu City’s executive assistant to the mayor Francisco Fernandez said that 90-year-old tycoon John Gokongwei – the owner of both Universal Hotels and JG Summit – was planning to attend the ceremony.
“He wants to be here at the groundbreaking,” Fernandez said.
“They’re in a hurry to do it. They already want to start construction and they’re going to apply for a permit and such.”
According to the Philippine Star, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña stated earlier in the day that Gokongwei’s Php18 billion investment would help generate around 5,000 jobs via the hiring of various construction workers and trades.
When the project was first announced last November, the local council said that Universal Hotels “intends to contribute in making Cebu City the newest tourism destination in the country by developing and operating a Pagcor-accredited and world-class integrated resort and casino facility,” the council measure reads.
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