Coron doesn’t need Nickelodeon to boost tourism —environmentalist

An environmentalist on Saturday said that Coron, Palawan does not need the construction of Nickelodeon's underwater resort and theme park in order to boost tourism on the island.

"Coron is beautiful as it is, with its limestone cliffs, coral reefs, and lagoons. It does not need artificial structures to draw local and foreign tourists," Save Philippine Seas executive director and co-founder Anna Oposa told GMA News Online on Saturday.

Oposa has also appealed to concerned government agencies to be transparent about the suggested development plan.

"For a development [plan] of this scale, which is reported to eat up 100 hectares of a 400-hectare property, we ask for transparency from all government agencies, local government units, and developers themselves to present their conservation and development plan."

"Palawan is considered as the country’s last frontier — let’s keep it that way," she added.

Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo earlier said that her department is "excited" over the prospect of establishing an underwater and resort theme park on Coron Island as it will attract more tourists.

"The Department of Tourism is aware of the planned Coral World Park on Coron. From a tourism perspective, the DOT is excited about the idea because this would attract both local and foreign tourists," Secretary Wanda Teo said in a statement.

In January, Viacom International Media Networks, the parent company of Nickelodeon said that the park in Palawan province would be part of a 400-hectare 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."

Meanwhile, Oposa is leading the campaign dubbed #CoronIsNotBikiniBottom, which was posted on her Facebook account and on Bataris website.

The hashtag refers to the home of TV cartoon character Sponge Bob, one of the characters featured on Nickelodeon.

In the campaign, which is addressed to the local government of Palawan, Nickelodeon (Viacom International Media Networks), and Coral World Park Undersea Resorts Inc., the complainants are asking the companies to "junk their plan to build an underwater theme park on Coron."

Oposa said they will remain firm on their opposition against Nickelodeon's project.

"Our position from January 2017 has not changed. We are still against the construction of the Nickelodeon-Coral World Park attraction. We are even more concerned that condominiums are now in the plan, as hinted at by Secretary Teo," she said.

She then called on the public to join their movement through signing the online petition.

"We also encourage the public to stay vigilant with us and continue sharing the online petition to show strength in numbers," Oposa said. — LBG, GMA News