New casino in Quezon City expected to boost jobs

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Saturday welcomed the opening of a new casino-resort in Quezon City, saying that the new development would create more jobs and bolster tax revenues in Metro Manila’s largest city, according to a report by ABS-CBN.

Marcos gave the statement during the opening of Bloomberry Resorts Corporation’s (BRC) Solaire Resort North, a  $1-billion project that hosts a 5-star integrated resort in a 1.5-hectare location near Metro Manila’s main thoroughfare. 

“With Solaire Resort North hiring more than 4,000 Filipino employees, this will not only boost our economy but also empower our people to reach their full potential,” the President said in his speech. 

“Beyond the revenues that pour in from leisure activities and tourism, this industry has provided jobs to our people and has contributed to social development,” he said. 

Marcos Jr. also described the new casino-resort as “another game-changing global hospitality industry,” underscoring that tax revenues from BRC’s latest venture is expected to fund several government projects in the coming years. 

“The revenues from these ventures contributed huge funding for the operations of government agencies such as the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, the Philippine Sports Commission, [and] the Dangerous Drugs Board,” the Chief Executive said. 

“It redounds to the implementation of the Universal Health Care, Early Childhood Care and Development Fund, Integrated Sports Development Program, the National Endowment for Culture and Arts, and the establishment and the operation of adequate drug rehabilitation centers,” he added. 

The contribution of the gaming industry “is more than what has been understood in the traditional sense,” the President said, noting that several casino-resorts in the country have also “expanded into crucial sectors, including hotels, retail centers, movie theaters, and dining establishments.” 

“This resort, features not only first-class amenities but also world-class Filipino talent, is going further to raise the country’s image on the international stage,” Marcos Jr. said. 

“More than the best tourist destinations here in the Philippines, it is our people that keeps bringing tourists back. Our smiles, our generosity, our excellent hospitality,” he said. 

After the COVID-19 pandemic, the tourism sector has “slowly but surely risen to the challenge of travel resurgence,” the President said, noting that the Philippines’ inbound tourists more than doubled to 5.45 million in 2023, compared to the 2.65 million visitors recorded in 2022. 

The President then urged business leaders as well as tourism and gaming stakeholders who were present in the event to continue working to attract more tourists and investors to come to the Philippines. 

“Let us reach out to the world beyond our shores, for it is filled with people who are yearning for adventure and eagerness to discover new experiences that, I am sure, the Philippines can certainly offer,” he said. 

“We want them here, visiting our islands, investing in our businesses, spending their hard-earned money by having fun and having the best time of their lives here in our country,” he said. 

“It is our mission to let the entire world know that the Philippines is open for tourism, for business.” 

Meantime, BRC Chairman and CEO Enrique Razon guaranteed that his company is committed to showcase Filipino hospitality at its best to help boost tourism in Northern Metro Manila both for locals and foreigners. 

“We envision Solaire Resort North to be a destination resort of choice. We hope to serve the burgeoning tourism demand north of Metro Manila and nearby provinces that enjoy rapid commercial and residential development,” Razon said. 

“We hope to bolster economic activity in Quezon City by encouraging visitors — both Filipino and foreigners — to explore and discover the city,” he said. 

“Beyond the opulence and grandeur lies our unwavering dedication to service,” he added. 

The Solaire Resort North houses 14 restaurants, 530 rooms and suites, and 4 gaming levels with 2,600 electronic gaming machines and 160 tables. 

It opens to the public on May 25.