Press Release
March 15, 2012

PROBE MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR LAS VEGAS-STYLE CASINO PROJECT
IN MANILA -- PIMENTEL

Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III has called for an investigation into the ambitious multi-billion dollar "Entertainment City" to be established in Metro Manila which has yet to start implementation nearly four years after the grand plan was hatched by the government.

Pimentel, who chairs the Senate committee on games, has filed a resolution asking the Senate to investigate the status of the Entertainment City Manila from officials of the Philippine Gaming Corporation and top executives of the private corporations who are supposed to build an integrated gambling and casino complex in Manila to be called "Entertainment City Manila".

Pimentel stressed the investigation is needed because the people have to find out if this ambitious entertainment project could and would deliver on its potential and promised or anticipated benefits.

Pimentel noted that it was four years ago in April 2008, when the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) announced a grand plan to put up a "Las Vegas-style" casino and tourism complex near the Manila Bay to be named "Entertainment City Manila".

Pimentel said that part of the justification for the said project is that it is expected to boost tourist arrivals in the country and generate new jobs as well.

The gambling complex is planned to feature six-star hotels, gaming facilities, malls, museums, cultural centers, sports arenas, residential villages and theme parks;

The senator from Mindanao bared that four (4) companies have been granted licenses to build, own and operate integrated resorts in Entertainment City Manila namely: (1) Travellers International Hotel Group, (2) SM consortium, (3) Tiger Resorts Leisure and Entertainment Inc., and (4) Bloomberry Resorts and Hotels Incorporated;

Each licensee is required to invest a minimum of one billion US dollars ($1,000,000,000.00) into its project by building an integrated resort with a minimum of 250,000 square meters of floor area and 800 hotel rooms with an average room area of 40 square meters each, Pimentel said

The government has envisioned that the said Entertainment City Manila would capture at least a 10 percent (10%) share in the total global gaming market, which is estimated at $115 billion annually.

After four years since the grand plan was hatched, the people and the government are in the dark as to the status of its implementation, thus warranting a full blown investigation by the Senate, Pimentel said.

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