Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) announced on Tuesday that they will no longer pursue the planned undersea Nickelodeon themed park in Coron, Palawan.
According to the statement, VIMN and Nickelodeon will be no longer be involved on the proposed development of Coral World Park and discontinue the licensing agreement for the theme park.
“Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) has mutually agreed with Coral World Park to discontinue the IP licensing agreement for the Nickelodeon-branded attraction and resort that was intended to be part of Coral World Park’s planned development in the western Philippine province of Palawan.”
The project was announced last January this year, upon knowing, the public especially environmentalists expressed their concerns regarding the said underwater theme park for it would destroy the area’s world-famous marine ecosystem.
“We commend Viacom International Media Networks, the media company that owns Nickelodeon, for heeding to the call of over 260,000 online petitioners and local communities to disengage with Coral World Park,” Save Philippine Seas executive director Anna Oposa said.
A petition was therefore released after the said announcement by Environment groups, with 263,813 people signed including Palawan residents, nature tourism advocates and indigenous people’s organizations that were against the campaign.
“VIMN’s decision to cut-off its ties with CWP shows that the real power lies in the hands of the people, especially our Tagbanua brothers and sisters, who fiercely opposed the project,” Oposa said.
“As a child-friendly and family-oriented channel, Nickelodeon is best not to be associated with a potentially destructive structure that will negatively affect the lives, livelihood, and culture of the people of Coron,” she added.
Environmental Legal Assistance Center Palawan executive director, Gerthie Mayo-Anda said that the proposed project of Coral World Park will continue to opposed by the environmental groups and reminded the future investors to “not to risk their money and their name on questionable and destructive projects.”
“Environmentally destructive projects, such as the proposed undersea attraction, will never be welcome in Palawan, and in any other islands in the Philippines,” Vince Cinches, Philippines Oceans Campaigner for Greenpeace Southeast Asia. | (Tina Joyce Laceda – PTV)