What casino? Boracay will go to farmers, Duterte claims

The Philippine Star reports: “President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday said he would give Boracay to farmers after the six-month rehabilitation of the world-famous island. In a press briefing before departing to China for Boao Forum, the chief executive said that he would give the lands in Boracay to the ‘people who need it most.’ The move to close Boracay, which has cast a shadow of uncertainty over at least 30,000 tourism-related jobs on the island, has been criticized for a perceived lack of planning and of coordination with local stakeholders. Plans to build a casino in the island’s Barangay Manoc-Manoc has also earned the government criticism.”