Japanese gaming entrepreneur Kazuo Okada has pledged support to the Philippines government in a recent courtesy visit to the Speaker of the country’s House of Representatives, Pantaleon Alvarez.
Mr Okada (pictured in a file photo) is developing Okada Manila, a private-sector US$2.4-billion casino resort in Manila that is due to have a first-phase launch in December.
“Mr Okada discussed and re-affirmed his commitment to support the government in its efforts in supporting local employment and improving economic growth,” stated a press release from Okada Manila.
The release did not disclose when the meeting took place.
Okada Manila “aims to employ a total of 8,000 workers,” said the release.
The first phase of the project covers 22 hectares (220,000 square metres) of the overall 44-hectare plot in which the casino resort stands.
Under an earlier plan for Okada Manila – which originally had the working title Manila Bay Resorts – the casino property should have been completed by March 31, 2015. But the local casino regulator approved in June 2015 a new timetable that pushed back the completion of the venue to December 31, 2016.
