Nickelodeon cancels Palawan underwater park

MANILA, Philippines - American children’s television network Nickelodeon said yesterday it had abandoned plans for a themed resort in Coron, Palawan following a backlash from environmentalists.

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

The announcement triggered criticism from environmentalists who said it would destroy the area’s world-famous marine ecosystem. An online petition calling for the project to be scrapped drew more than 260,000 signatures.

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

“(Viacom) and Nickelodeon will no longer be involved in 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 Southeast 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 Southeast Asia that “would give a significant business opportunity for our partners across multiple platforms.”