PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan -- The city government here and SM City Puerto Princesa have partnered for the March 24 celebration of this year’s “Earth Hour,” encouraging residents and businesses to participate by turning off their lights for an hour from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
During the annual celebration, which marks the people’s commitment to the planet, various activities will be held and prepared for local residents, who want to show the world that the city cares; and tourists.
Russell Fernandez, the public affairs officer of SM City Puerto Princesa, said their company is keen on “raising awareness about climate change and in getting the community to participate in a collective effort to care for the environment.”
“The warming of the waters of the Pacific Ocean has spawned super typhoons like Haiyan (Yolanda). And because of climate change, experts have warned that more are to come that can devastate shoreline communities, displace people, and destroy infrastructure, homes, and livelihoods,” he said on Wednesday.
With the Philippines being visited by more than 20 typhoons every year and the ever-increasing weather disturbances, every initiative, big or small, counts to help ease the dire effects of climate change, he said.
Liza Selirio, director of the SM Cares Program on the Environment and Sustainability, said this is the key reason why SM Prime Holdings Inc. has been taking an active part in the yearly celebration of the “Earth Hour.”
“We want to encourage communities to participate in the Earth Hour celebration because the more people taking part, the more awareness and positive action we are able to achieve. This is why even our SMDC Malls are joining us this year because we want our communities in our residential buildings to also take part,” Silerio said.
Since its launch in the Philippines in 2009, the “Earth Hour” celebration has been observed in more than 1,600 cities and towns across the country while over 15 million Filipinos have joined the global celebration of the hour-long lights-off, a gesture-symbol of commitment to the well-being of the planet.
The SM Group, including its chain of 68 malls nationwide, seven SM Malls in China, plus its affiliated establishments, namely SM Development Corporation (SMDC) will take part in the “2018 Earth Hour".
This year’s worldwide theme, “Connect to Earth” seeks to raise awareness on the effects of climate change and to get the community involved in helping care for the environment. (PNA)
