Krizette Laureta Chu calls for Filipinos to unite against the plan of Nickelodeon to convert Palawan into an underwater theme park
Netizen Krizette Laureta Chu is critical about the plan of American television network Nickelodeon to build an underwater resort and theme park on Palawan, which is considered as the last ecological frontier of the Philippines.
Nickelodeon, the American children’s television network behind the SpongeBob Square Pants and Dore the Expolorer, said that the theme park on Palawan island would be a part of a 400-hectare or one thousand acre undersea development, which would showcase the marine life of the area, giving the fans a chance to “interact withy the brand and the iconic characters that they love”.
Just like any other environment welfare advocate, Krizette Laureta Chu is alarmed with the said planned development and has come out through her Facebook account, urging the “Filipinos to stop this exploitative plan to convert Palawan into an underwater theme park!”.
Krizette fears that the development would destroy the last frontier of the Philippines, saying in Filipino language, “Sisirain niyo and last frontier ng Pilipinas”.
Krizette expressed hopes that President Rodrigo Duterte and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Gina Lopez can do something about the planned development, having powerful seats in the Philippine government.
According to Krizette, to make the Filipino citizens’ protesting voices heard, she suggested that they “form a human barricade in Palawan” when Nickelodeon conducts “groundbreaking” to start the underwater resort and theme park.
But in the later part of her Facebook post, Krizette expressed that plane tickets going to Palawan is quite expensive.
Nickelodeon, known today as Viacom International Media Networks, has chosen Palawan to be the location for the development because it is popular to have some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, according to the firm’s executive vice president Ron Johnson.
Nickelodeon said it would open the resort in year 2020 and feature restaurants and lounges six meters or 20 feet below the sea level.
The Viacom said the development would advocate ocean protection, despite criticism that it would cause harm to the environment.
Aside from Krizette Laureta Chu, the environmental group Greenpeace is also critical about the underwater resort and theme park, saying it would destroy the world-famous marine ecosystem of Palawan island.