Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Amid online furor over a plan by U.S. media conglomerate Viacom to put up a children's underwater theme park in one of Palawan's pristine islands, local officials on Wednesday denied receiving any communication from the company on the project. The network behind SpongeBob SquarePants believes that the marine park will allow fans to “interact with the brand and the iconic characters they love.” Characters from “Spongebob Squarepants” appear at FAN FEST during the 2016 BET Experience on June 25, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. Environmentalists have raised the alarm over the planned construction of the underwater resort and theme park in what is known as the Philippines' 'last ecological frontier'

MANILA, Philippines – Environment Secretary Gina Lopez will not allow the planned construction of an underwater resort and theme park in Palawan. Palawan -- which is made up of one main island and smaller groups of islands around it -- is a UNESCO designated biosphere reserve and home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site marine park. This contradicts a press statement from Viacom, however, where the company described “underwater restaurants and lounges, which will be located about 20 feet below sea level with vivid views of the world beneath the ocean.”

The “Save Philippine Seas” network has dismissed developers’ efforts to walk back Viacom's description:

Their statements attempt to downplay the possible irreversible environmental impacts of the proposed project to the marine environment, violating the constitutional rights of the community to a healthy and balanced ecology. We don’t need an underwater theme park — our underwater life is fascinating, entertaining, and educational on its own.” Less than 24 hours after the campaign started, it already gathered over 103,000 signatures out of its target of 200,000. The signature campaign is addressed not only to Nickelodeon but also to the local government of Palawan as well as the network’s local partner, Coral World Park Undersea Resorts Inc.

As opposed to the network’s press releases that the project will protect Palawan’s marine ecosystems, the campaign says that the theme park will do the exact opposite because the construction of artificial structures will only lead to the disruption of marine life. The environmental group is urging the resort developer to invest its funds in the support of existing marine protected areas:

The government’s environment secretary, meanwhile, says she will oppose the construction of any underwater theme parks in Palawan: "If you are sincere and serious about marine conservation, the money allocated for the underwater theme park should be invested in marine protected areas, sustainable livelihoods for local communities, and environmental education programs," the petition continued.
Environmentalists and netizens protest the planned construction of a Nickelodeon-themed underwater amusement park and resort by Viacom International Media Networks in Coron, Palawan, Philippines, despite claims by Viacom that the project would advocate marine resources conservation.