DENR won’t allow Nickelodeon theme park

MANILA, Philippines – Environment Secretary Gina Lopez yesterday vowed to prevent the American children’s television network Nickelodeon from building an underwater resort and theme park in Coron, Palawan.

In a post on its official Twitter account, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said: “Lopez says she won’t allow the underwater theme park in Palawan.”

The DENR issued the statement after Viacom International Media Networks, owner of Nickelodeon, on Tuesday announced its plan to build a 400-hectare underwater resort and theme park in Coron.

“It is known to have some of the most beautiful beaches in the world today,” Viacom executive vice president Ron Johnson – referring to Palawan – was quoted as saying in an email statement to Agence France Presse.

Environment advocates, including Greenpeace, opposed the idea and warned against destruction of marine ecosystems in the area.

Petition

Following Viacom’s announcement, environmental group Save Philippines Seas launched an online petition dubbed “No to Nickelodeon’s Underwater Theme Park in Palawan.”

In less than 24 hours, close to 100,000 netizens have signed the petition against the plan.

Anna Oposa, co-founder of Save Philippine Seas, led the campaign on Bataris.com.

“We call on the local government of Palawan, Nickelodeon or Viacom International Media Networks and Coral World Park Undersea Resorts Inc. to junk their plan to build a 400-hectare underwater theme park in Coron,” the petition read.

“Contrary to a press statement that the underwater theme park would advocate ocean protection, it will accomplish the exact opposite. By building artificial structures, you will undeniably damage and disrupt Palawan’s marine ecosystems – our Last Frontier,” the petition said.

“For a television channel that targets children, Nickelodeon is setting a terrible mistake to the younger generation by taking away their right to enjoy our natural resources,” it added.

The petition can be accessed through social media sites Facebook and Twitter.

Meanwhile, fishers’ group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) joined the call to stop the proposed Palawan underwater theme park.

“The fisherfolk group vows to oppose and frustrate the project in order to protect the country’s marine resources and most of all, the livelihood of the fishers and the Filipino people,” Pamalakaya said in a statement.

Pamalakaya chairman Fernando Hicap said that contrary to Nickelodeon’s claim that the project will promote environmental protection, the construction of the resort and theme park would destroy Palawan’s environment and its marine and aquatic life.

Based on the group’s records, Palawan is home to more than 300 coral species or about half of all coral species in the world, as well as breeding ground of more than 1,500 fish species in the country. – With Janvic Mateo