A warning about a looming volcano is definitely not the way to start the year for any country or state. In relation to that, the Philippines has not had much luck as one of its own, the Taal volcano, has been sending threatening signals. Experts say that the constant rumbles and release of toxic fumes are nothing less than an almost sure bet of looming eruption.
Now what’s contrary to most people’s expectations is that despite this, at least two casinos have announced that they will continue with business as usual. It’s not clear why the management of these businesses are ignoring the warnings because if the worst happens, of obvious that this might spark a court case.
The Taal volcano, located at the Taal lake, started showing signs of trouble in March 2019, when increased seismic activity was noted. In November of the same year, 57 volcanic earthquakes were sensed in one day. According to one article in CalvinAyre.com the volcano has been quiet since then until the 12th of this month when it erupted. During the eruption, volcanic ash spread over 10 miles.
The Metro Manila, located 62 miles north of Lake Taal, is one of the casinos that has continued with normal operations. Most have their eyes focused on the casino, especially after a report by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology indicating that an eruption could occur at any time. Resorts World Manila, operated by the Travelers International Hotel Group, has also remained open.
The casino gave a statement to the media saying it will continue with normal operations as it follows on the daily updates from relevant authorities. In an effort to provide assistance to its staff and employees, the casino waived overnight parking fees on January 11.
The hotels within the facility have been accepting walk-in guests whose flights have been canceled. Besides, the casino has been providing transport for employees living in affected areas.
Okada Manila has also remained open, though it assures it has taken the necessary precautionary measures. The casino gave a statement to GGRAsia asserting that it had put into place safety measures to protect its employees and guests against the possible effects of the volcano. They added that in an effort to keep the casino safe, all concerned business units within the casino’s structure were working day and night to monitor the situation.
It seems that not all casinos are confident in their ability to keep their staff and guests safe during such a natural disaster. One such casino is the Casino Filipino Tagaytay, which is operated by the state through the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).
On its website, the gaming venue explained that as soon as the Alert Level was raised to 4, they closed their doors, in fear of the imminent eruption. Besides, any eruption is likely to cause damage to Tagaytay and its surrounding areas. As a result, the closure is indefinite as the safety of their employees and guests comes first.
