Sunday 29 / September / 2024
Muscat: A major luxury resort in the Philippines has cancelled a controversial stunt to break the world's balloon dropping record after facing criticism from authorities.
The Okada Manila resort was due to release 120,000 balloons at midnight, but have since cancelled the event after it was heavily criticised by environmental agencies and groups.
In a message posted on Facebook, the hotel said that they "received today a letter from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) encouraging Okada Manila to cancel the event".
"Okada Manila firmly believes and continues to maintain that the Balloon Dropping event will not harm the environment. However, the management of Okada Manila has voluntarily decided to cancel the Balloon Drop event as a sign of respect to the DENR’s recommendation and in support of the Government’s campaign to protect and save the environment."
In his letter to the resort, the DENR Undersecretary Sherwin S. Rigor criticised the event, saying, "Although as per information gathered from your website, the event will take place in an enclosed space, we still express concern on the extravagant display that sends a message that there will be a volume of waste to be generated that will end up in our precious landfill.
"And in any event that the balloons are released in the air, it will be a threat to our environment, particularly the Manila Bay.
"Hence we noted your forthcoming event with deep concern and encourage you to cancel the event and instead, usher in the new year event with a lower environmental footprint activity."
