The children's entertainment company Nickelodeon wants to build a theme park in Palawan, the Philippines’ last ecological frontier. Local environmentalists are not amused.

Around the world, Nickelodeon is known for producing popular television shows like SpongeBob SquarePants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Dora the Explorer. The network's parent company, the media giant Viacom, announced its plans for Palawan on Monday, Jan. 9. Viacom says it's partnering with Coral World Park Undersea Resorts to build the park and an accompanying resort.

Dubbed the world’s first undersea attraction, the project features a 400-hectare (988-acre) resort located within a cluster of 16 white sand islands in Coron, Palawan. Coron, a popular tourist destination known for its white sand beaches, hidden lagoons, and pristine coral reefs, is part of Palawan province and home to various endangered species, which are threatened by unregulated commercial extractive activities.

After plans for the resort and theme park were announced, environmentalist Anna Oposa launched an online petition against the development plans. At the time of this writing, less than two days after the petition went live, there are more than 189,000 signatures.

Contrary to the 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. For a channel that targets children, Nickelodeon is setting a terrible example to the younger generation by taking away their right to enjoy our natural resources. We don't need an underwater theme park — our underwater life is fascinating, entertaining, and educational on its own.

Developers have responded to criticism by saying that the theme park is actually land-based, featuring only a floating infrastructure. This contradicts a press statement from Viacom, however, where the company described “underwater restaurants and lounges, which will be located about 20 feet below sea level with vivid views of the world beneath the ocean.”

The “Save Philippine Seas” network has dismissed developers’ efforts to walk back Viacom's description:

Their statements attempt to downplay the possible irreversible environmental impacts of the proposed project to the marine environment, violating the constitutional rights of the community to a healthy and balanced ecology. Though they claim to build on private property, the Philippines’ waters cannot be privatized. Their statements also make no recognition of or respect to the rights of the indigenous peoples of Calamianes.

The environmental group is urging the resort developer to invest its funds in the support of existing marine protected areas:

The government’s environment secretary, meanwhile, says she will oppose the construction of any underwater theme parks in Palawan: </s> American children’s television network Nickelodeon says it has abandoned plans for a themed resort on an island known as the Philippines’ last ecological frontier following a backlash from environmentalists.

Nickelodeon said in January that it would build an “undersea attraction and resort” on Palawan island that would let fans “interact with the brand and the iconic characters they love”, including SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer.

The announcement triggered fierce criticism from environmental campaigners who said it would destroy the area’s world-famous marine ecosystem, and an online petition calling for the project to be scrapped attracted more than 260,000 signatures.

Viacom International Media Networks, which owns Nickelodeon, said on Wednesday it had abandoned the project.

“[Viacom] and Nickelodeon will no longer be involved with this proposed development,” the company said in a statement. Viacom said the decision was “mutually agreed” with its Philippine partner, Coral World Park.

The statement did not say why Viacom had pulled out and its regional spokeswoman would not elaborate when contacted.

Conservation groups call Palawan “the last frontier” because of its pristine coastlines and forests, which are among the oldest and most diverse in south-east Asia. It is home to two Unesco world heritage sites – a subterranean river and the Tubbataha coral reefs.

Viacom’s initial statement in January promoted the project as its first resort in south-east Asia that “would give a significant business opportunity for our partners across multiple platforms”.

Viacom and Coral World Park also highlighted the project’s “ocean conservation focus” and plans for a giant marine sanctuary.

Environmental group Greenpeace on Wednesday hailed Viacom’s decision as a victory. “We commend Viacom for heeding the call of more than 200,000 online petitioners and the offline community campaign,” said Vince Cinches of Greenpeace South-east Asia. “They were able to dodge the bullet that has a huge reputational backlash for Nickelodeon, which has been claiming it is children-oriented.”

The Nickelodeon resort was meant to be part of Coral World Park’s 400-hectare (1,000-acre) development.

Coral World Park did not immediately respond to emails asking whether it would pursue the project following Viacom’s withdrawal.

The executive director of environmental group Save Philippine Seas, Anna Oposa, said the campaign against the development would not let up. “Our position and strategy will not change: we’ll continue to call on the local government of Coron and provincial government of Palawan to reject the project,” she said. </s> [MANILA] American children's television network Nickelodeon said Wednesday it had abandoned plans for a themed resort on an island known as the Philippines' last ecological frontier following a backlash from environmentalists.

Nickelodeon said in January that it would build an "undersea attraction and resort" on Palawan island that would let fans "interact with the brand and the iconic characters they love", including SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer.

The announcement triggered fierce criticism from environmental campaigners who said it would destroy the area's world-famous marine ecosystem, and an online petition calling for the project to be scrapped attracted more than 260,000 signatures.

Viacom International Media Networks, which owns Nickelodeon, said Wednesday it had abandoned the project.

"(Viacom) and Nickelodeon will no longer be involved with this proposed development," the company said in a statement sent to AFP.

Viacom said the decision was "mutually agreed" with its Philippine partner, Coral World Park.

The statement did not say why Viacom had pulled out and its regional spokeswoman would not elaborate when contacted by AFP.

Conservation groups call Palawan "the last frontier" because of its pristine coastlines and forests, which are among the oldest and most diverse in Southeast Asia.

It is home to two Unesco World Heritage-listed sites, a subterranean river and the Tubbataha coral reefs.

Viacom's initial statement in January promoted the project as its first resort in Southeast Asia that "would give a significant business opportunity for our partners across multiple platforms".

However Viacom and Coral World Park also highlighted the project's "ocean conservation focus" and plans for a giant marine sanctuary.

"We commend Viacom for heeding the call of more than 200,000 online petitioners and the offline community campaign," Vince Cinches of Greenpeace Southeast Asia told AFP.

"They were able to dodge the bullet that has a huge reputational backlash for Nickelodeon which has been claiming it is children oriented." The Nickelodeon resort was meant to be part of Coral World Park's 400-hectare development.

Coral World Park said in a statement on Wednesday it planned to continue with its project, while describing reports the development would harm the environment and a local tribal group as "misleading information".

"We are converting a former mining site into a tourism development contrary to reports that we are building on pristine land," it said.

The executive director of environmental group Save Philippine Seas, Anna Oposa, told AFP the campaign against the development would not let up.

"Our position and strategy will not change: we'll continue to call on the local government of Coron and provincial government of Palawan to reject the project," she said. </s> The Philippine environment minister has said the US children’s television network Nickelodeon will not be allowed to build an underwater theme park on one of her country’s most pristine islands.

Nickelodeon’s parent firm announced on Monday it would build a “themed attraction” inspired by its cartoon characters such as Dora the Explorer and SpongeBob SquarePants as part of a 400-hectare (1,000-acre) development on Palawan, generating alarm from environmentalists.

The environment secretary, Gina Lopez, said on Wednesday she would reject the project.

“Lopez says she won’t allow the underwater theme park in Palawan,” the environment department posted on its Twitter account.

In an interview with ABS-CBN television, Lopez said she would not allow any project that would damage the environment and the welfare of local communities.

“That’s our wealth. It’s not allowed. You can’t kill the corals. For a theme park? No. No way, man,” said Lopez, who has been a vocal opponent of mining projects in Palawan.

“The commitment of the government is first and foremost and always, always to the benefit of our people.”

Conservation groups call Palawan the nation’s “last ecological frontier” because of its relatively untouched coastlines and forests, which are among the oldest and most diverse in south-east Asia.

Palawan is home to two Unesco world heritage-listed sites, a subterranean river and the Tubbataha coral reefs.

Monday’s statement by Nickelodeon’s parent firm, Viacom International Media Networks, said its resort would open in 2020 and feature restaurants and lounges six metres (20ft) below sea level.

It also said the Palawan project would “take its place alongside” other Nickelodeon-branded attractions such as Wet’n’Wild in Australia, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Land in Russia and IMG Worlds of Legends theme park in Dubai.

An online petition organised by local environmentalists calling for the project to be stopped attracted more than 125,000 signatures in less than 24 hours.

Viacom’s Philippine partner, Coral World Park, issued a statement on Wednesday insisting the development was not a theme park and emphasised that it would not all be underwater.

The statement also highlighted the project’s “ocean conservation focus” and said it would help fund environmental protection in the area.

It referred to plans for a marine sanctuary and said the Coral World Park would “be the largest coral reef conservation program in Asia”.

“There has never been any form of communication from our side mentioning a theme park,” said Coral World Park marketing and communications director Susan Lee. </s> Environmentalists have raised the alarm over the planned construction of the underwater resort and theme park in what is known as the Philippines' 'last ecological frontier'

MANILA, Philippines – Environment Secretary Gina Lopez will not allow the planned construction of an underwater resort and theme park in Palawan.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) quoted Lopez on its official Twitter account on Wednesday, January 11.

Lopez says she won't allow the underwater theme park in Palawan. #environment2017 — DENR (@DENR_Official) January 11, 2017

The DENR issued the statement after Viacom International Media Networks, which owns Nickelodeon, announced that the resort would open in 2020 and feature restaurants and lounges 6 meters (20 feet) below sea level.

It would be part of a 400-hectare undersea development that will showcase the area's marine life and give fans a chance to "interact with the brand and the iconic characters they love."

Ron Johnson, an executive vice president at Viacom, said in a statement that Palawan was chosen because it "is known to have some of the most beautiful beaches in the world today."

Viacom said the development would "advocate ocean protection."

But the plan to build the park in what is known as the Philippines' "last ecological frontier" already met opposition from environmentalists who are worried it would destroy Palawan's world-famous marine ecosystem.

The Palawan Council for Sustainable Development, a government body, said the project had yet to be approved. – with reports from Agence France-Presse/Rappler.com </s> US children's television network Nickelodeon is abandoning plans to build an underwater theme park on an island in the Philippines.

Environmentalists said the planned resort on Palawan island would damage the area's world-famous marine ecosystem.

The island is home to some of the most diverse coastlines in South East Asia.

An online petition calling for the project to be scrapped attracted more than 260,000 signatures.

Viacom International Media Networks, which owns Nickelodeon, said: "[Viacom] and Nickelodeon will no longer be involved with this proposed development".

They added that the decision was "mutually agreed" with its Philippine partner, Coral World Park.

In January, Nickelodeon said it would build a themed resort that would let fans "interact with the brand and the iconic characters they love", including SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer.

They said it would open in 2020 and feature restaurants and lounges six metres (20ft) below sea level.

It provoked a backlash from conservation groups, who call Palawan island the Philippines' "last ecological frontier" because of its relatively untouched coastlines and forests. </s> American children's television network Nickelodeon has announced it will build an underwater resort and theme park on an island known as the Philippines' last ecological frontier, alarming environmentalists.

The firm behind SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer said the park on Palawan island would be part of a 400-hectare (1,000-acre) undersea development showcasing the area's marine life that would give fans a chance to "interact with the brand and the iconic characters they love".

Palawan was chosen for the development because it "is known to have some of the most beautiful beaches in the world today," Ron Johnson, an executive vice president with Viacom International Media Networks, which owns Nickelodeon, said in a statement on Tuesday.

Viacom's initial statement announcing the project on Monday said the resort would open in 2020 and feature restaurants and lounges six metres (20 feet) below sea level.

The development would "advocate ocean protection" and conserve coral reefs, the statement said.

But environmental group Greenpeace said it would destroy the area's world-famous marine ecosystem.

"It's sad and alarming because a theme park that big will not promote environmental protection by building those structures," Vince Cinches of Greenpeace Southeast Asia said.

"Why build a viewing deck when you have the whole paradise to enjoy?"

Conservation groups call Palawan "the last frontier" because of its pristine coastlines and forests, which are among the oldest and most diverse in Southeast Asia.

Palawan is home to two UNESCO World Heritage-listed sites, a subterranean river and the Tubbataha coral reefs.

"I am wary because we have had problems already with resorts built in mangrove areas," Mayo-Anda, executive director of the Environmental Legal Assistance Center said.

"I'm really concerned because sometimes, with all due respect to the local government unit, we get captivated by new projects and we do not judiciously study the impact."

Viacom's Philippine partner, Coral World Park, insisted the resort would not hurt the environment.

"We are taking very, very careful measures to ensure that the biodiversity is kept intact," Coral World Park chairman Paul Monozca said.

Coral World Park said the development would be part of a coral reef conservation programme including a marine sanctuary for species like dolphins and sea cows.

The Palawan Council for Sustainable Development, a government body, said the project had yet to be approved.
Viacom International Media Networks has announced it will no longer pursue a Nickelodeon underwater theme park and resort in Palawan, Philippines. The project, announced last January, attracted controversy due to criticisms from environmentalist groups who fear the resort might destroy the area's marine ecosystem, home to two UNESCO World Heritage sites.