Online protest vs. planned underwater theme park in Palawan gains traction

Conservation groups and concerned citizens on Wednesday channeled their outrage through a hashtag following reports of a planned construction of an underwater theme park in Palawan. 

Save Philippine Seas spearheaded the protest, endorsing a petition to stop Viacom International Media Networks from pushing through with their plans. 

Viacom International Media Networks owns Nickelodeon, which owns the SpongeBob SquarePants franchise. The theme park is meant to introduce tourists to the "characters and marine life" they love in the show. 

"Coron is not Bikini Bottom!" Save Philippines Seas declared, refuting the company's claims that the theme park will "advocate ocean protection."

"By building artificial structures, you will undeniably damage and disrupt Palawan's marine ecosystems — our Last Frontier. 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 read.

Sign the petition against the @NickelodeonTV 400-ha underwater theme park in Coron! #CoronIsNotBikiniBottom https://t.co/QMiOtKRxoT pic.twitter.com/U4wqB1CJJ7

— Save Philippine Seas (@SavePHSeas) January 11, 2017

Social media users followed suit, sending the hashtag #CoronIsNotBikiniBottom to the top of Philippine trends by midday.

Please sign: https://t.co/fc8pyaHhXq #CoronIsNotBikiniBottom

— Preview Magazine (@previewph) January 11, 2017

Captain: Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?
Coron: Definetly wala kasi hindi naman totoo si Spongebob.#CoronIsNotBikiniBottom

— maartist.md (@maartistmd) January 10, 2017

If you haven't already, please sign the petition. Let's keep our marine ecosystems intact. #CoronIsNotBikiniBottom https://t.co/vpEI4JPJCW

— Professors of UPLB (@uplbprofs) January 11, 2017

We dont need a theme park. We already have a paradise. #CoronIsNotBikiniBottom This cause is close to my heart : https://t.co/WJm1YmnzBw

— Roby Reguyal (@jrreguyal) January 11, 2017

"We don't need a theme park. We already have paradise," one user asserted.

Palawan is home to two UNESCO World Heritage-listed sites, a subterranean river and the Tubbataha coral reefs.

Viacom International Media Networks Executive Vice President Ron Johnson said that they chose Palawan for the theme park because it "is known to have some of the most beautiful beaches in the world today."

Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Gina Lopez in a press conference Wednesday declared that they "won't allow underwater theme park in Palawan."

— RSJ, GMA News