Binatikos ng iba't ibang environmental groups ang Department of Tourism (DOT) matapos na payagan ang pagpapalipad ng makukulay na lobo sa opening day ng MIMAROPA Festival 2018 noong November 15, 2018 sa bayan ng Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro.
Sinabi ng groupong EcoWaste Coalition na 'no laughing matter' o hindi umano katawa-tawa ang pagpapalipad ng mga lobo na pinangunahan mismo ng mga opisyal ng Occidental Mindoro at ng Department of Tourism.
Kinundina rin ni Rodne Galicha, Country Manager ng The Climate Reality Project Philippines, ang pagpapalipad ng lobo sa opening day ng MIMAROPA Festival 2018.
Aniya, ang mga nasabing lobo ay nagdedecompose mula anim na buwan hanggang apat na taon, at kalimitan ay napupunta sa dagat kapag pinalipad.
"This is unacceptable and is contrary to the very motto of MIMAROPA - Destination of Choice, NATURALLY. This is an intentional violation of Republic Act 9003, and other related laws," pahayag ni Galicha sa kanyang Facebook post.
Samantala, nagpahayag na ang DOT na sisiguraduhin nilang hindi na magpapalipad ng lobo sa susunod na MIMAROPA Festival sa susunod na taon.
Sa pahayag ni DOT Mimaropa Regional Director Maria Luisa Diploma sa Rappler, sinabi nito na sasabihin nila ang nasabing issue sa Regional Development Council (RDC), para maging aware umano ang lahat kung sakaling magkaroon pa ng ibang event ang maliban sa MIMAROPA Festival ay makonsidera ang hindi pagpapalipad ng lobo.
"With regards to Mr [Daniel] Alejandre's statement [of EcoWaste Coalition], there is no objection to what he said. We really accept his statement [pointing out] that action was harmful to the environment. We thank him for bringing this to our attention," pahayag ni Diploma.
"We also discussed with the mayor to really avoid the use of balloons when they have activities in the future. I think it's also an eye-opener. It's about time really that we look for other ways to celebrate whenever there are ceremonies," dagdag pa ni Diploma.
