Environment groups relieved over Viacom break up with Coral World Park on planned undersea theme park in Coron

The Environment groups that had come together in Palawan to oppose the planned Nickelodeon-branded undersea theme park in Coron scored a victory with the announcement by Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) on Tuesday, August 22, 2017, that it will discontinue its partnership with Coral World Park (CWP) for the planned theme park.

The groups had rallied with Palawan residents, nature tourism advocates, indigenous peoples organizations, and other concerned groups, through an effort via the petition website, Bataris.org.ph. The petition was able to garner more than a quarter of a million signatures.

Bataris petitioner and Save Philippine Seas executive director Anna Oposa said:

“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. 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. 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.

Meanwhile, Environmental Legal Assistance Center Palawan’s executive director, Atty. Gerthie Mayo-Anda, said:

“However, the battle is not yet over, and we cannot be complacent. We will continue to oppose the proposed project of Coral World Park, and for future investors not to risk their money and their name on questionable and destructive projects. We continue to call on the local government of Coron, the provincial government of Palawan, and the national government agencies, especially the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Tourism, to reject the attraction. We remain vigilant and will continue to monitor any updates and developments related to the proposed project.

Vince Cinches, Oceans and Political Campaigner of Greenpeace Southeast Asia – Philippines, said:

“Let this be a warning to big companies that environmentally destructive projects, such as the proposed undersea attraction, will never be welcome in Palawan, and in any other islands in the Philippines.”

The opposition to the proposed underwater theme park is spearheaded by Save Philippine Seas, Greenpeace Southeast Asia - Philippines, Marine Wildlife Watch of the Philippines, Environmental Legal Assistance Center Palawan, Tagbanua Tribe of Coron Island Association, Social Action Center of the Apostolic Vicariate of Taytay, Palawan, Scubasurero, World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines, Conservation International – Philippines, Oceana Philippines, Haribon Foundation for the Conservation of Natural Resources, Inc., Green Thumb Coalition, Reef Check Philippines, Center for Energy, Ecology and Development, Tambuyog Development Center Inc., NGOs for Fisheries Reform, Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement, and the Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines.

For more information:

Vince Cinches, Political Campaigner, Greenpeace Southeast Asia – Philippines

vince.cinches@greenpeace.org | +63 949 889 1336

Angelica Carballo Pago, Media Campaigner, Greenpeace Southeast Asia – Philippines

angelica.pago@greenpeace.org | +63 949 889 1332

Anna Oposa, Executive Director, Save Philippine Seas

anna@savephilippineseas.org I 0917 851 0209

Atty. Gerthie Mayo-Anda, Executive Director, Environmental Legal Assistance Center – Palawan

gerthie1987@gmail.com I 0918 936 7764