Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo / INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO
The Department of Tourism (DOT) has not approved plans for the construction of the controversial undersea-themed Nickelodeon park in Coron, Palawan, saying environment groups are opposed to the project.
READ: Cimatu urged: Reject Nickelodeon resort in Palawan
In a statement from Japan, where she is leading a three-day business mission, DOT Secretary Wanda Teo reiterated that the facility would first have to gain “crucial approvals” from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Palawan local government.
She assured the Haribon Foundation and other environmental groups that the protection and enhancement of the environment will always be a paramount concern of the DOT.
The Secretary said her initial positive response on the project, proposed by the Coral World Park Undersea Resorts Inc. and Nickelodeon’s parent company Viacom Inc. was “part of [my] job to encourage investment in new Philippine tourism projects” but added that this did not at all signify that she was throwing her support behind the project.
“We must see first if the project proponents can make good on their assurance to us that their project will not damage the environment, and that this will have a strong positive impact on the people of Palawan. The primary agencies to determine this are the DENR and the Palawan local governments, and we will defer to their assessment,” Teo said.
The DOT, she said, will give its “full support” for tourism projects designed to protect and enhance the environment, as embodied in DOT’s six-year tourism development program approved by Malacañang recently.
“We are supportive of new tourism projects that would make the Philippines more attractive to foreign tourists and provide new rest and recreation havens for Filipinos. But these new projects, and even our existing tourism spots, should be havens as well for all living creatures. And the natural beauty that attracts visitors in the first place should always be preserved,” she said
The DOT also quoted Palawan Gov. Jose Alvarez saying that no application for the Nickelodeon project has been filed yet.
“Forget what Nickelodeon is saying because they are just teasing your imagination. There is no such plan. There is no application. And beside, they will not be allowed to construct underwater. Is it very clear?” Alvarez had said.
Teo and Alvarez hosted the visiting tourism ministers and United Nations World Tourism Organization officials in Palawan’s capital Puerto Princesa City last week.
Coral World earlier said that the development of its proposed tourism facility was land-based and that no underwater facility would be constructed. JPV