Philippine Vice President Jejomar Binay has voiced his support for the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation’s multi-million dollar Entertainment City project, saying that it would provide new jobs for Filipinos while also serving as a catalyst towards a significant economic boost for the country.
As quoted in the Manila Standard Today, Binay said that the Entertainment City will be an economic boon for the Philippines, while also provide a significant number of new employment opportunities for a lot of Filipinos. “The project will be a big boost to the economy,” the vice president said.
“It will bring investors and visitors and this will provide employment and livelihood opportunities for thousands of Filipinos.”
As the presidential adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers concerns, Binay understands the plight of Filipino OFWs who seek jobs in foreign lands to be able to provide for their families. While those jobs do offer higher wages than what they would’ve otherwise earned in the Philippines, the toll of being away from their families is something that a lot of these OFWs have a hard time dealing with. The development of Entertainment City will not only give Filipinos an opportunity to work in the country, but do so while being close to their loved ones. According to Pagcor chairman and CEO Cristino Naguiat, Jr., the Entertainment City project is expected to open up around one million jobs for Filipinos, especially for the service sector, as well as for local gaming experts, entertainers, performers, and artists.
But more than just the employment opportunities that will open up, Binay also stressed the importance of Entertainment City as a future magnet of tourism for the Philippines. Once completed, Entertainment City has the potential to attract tourists from all over the world. With that thinking in mind, the vice president has urged local government units to make a concerted effort in trying to improve their own tourism programs, saying that attracting foreigners to visit their cities could equate to additional revenues and more job opportunities for the local folks.
“The Entertainment City will certainly spur tourism development in various areas in the country, with the hope of attracting foreigners to visit their localities and see their respective tourist attraction and facilities,” Binay said.
It certainly goes without saying that there’s a lot invested in the development and completion of Entertainment City, not just for Pagcor, but for the Philippines as a whole. As a country that prides itself on the slogan “It’s More Fun In the Philippines!”, there’s no better way to prove that than by bringing Vegas-style fun halfway around the world on Philippine soil.
