ILOILO CITY -- Ilonggos are enjoined to participate in the observance of the annual “Earth Hour” — a lights out event — on March 24.
Mayor Jose Espinosa III, in signing Memorandum Circular No, 15, urged all Ilonggos and those who are residing or traveling to the city to switch off their lights, including streetlights and signages for one hour starting at 8:30 p.m.
He said this activity, which is done every March 24th, is an “effective medium of raising awareness of the general public on the pernicious and devastating effect of climate change and how to mitigate the same”.
The mayor added that in the past years, the entire world becomes a witness to the “occurrence of the horrifying calamities brought about by climate change”.
“Climate change is not only the concern of the national government but the concern of the Ilonggos as well,” he added.
In his memorandum, Espinosa ordered all city government officials and employees to ensure that his directive is “faithfully complied with”.
Meantime, Regional Director Jim O. Sampulna of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Western Visayas hopes that energy conservation will not only last for an hour but for a longer time.
“We at the DENR are also encouraging other people who can’t make it to the program to participate in their own home or community. Let this event be the kickoff of the true change of climate change,” he added.
The DENR, through the Environment and Management Bureau (EMB), will hold the celebration at the SM City Iloilo Southpoint.
DENR, in its press statement, said the country was able to save as much as 611 megawatt-hours during last year’s celebration of the “Earth Hour”.
The savings in the electric consumption were equivalent to shutting down 12 coal-fired power plants for an hour.
“Earth Hour 2018” anchors on the theme “Let nature shine”.
It started as a symbolic lights out event in Sydney in 2007 that has now evolved as the world’s largest movement for the environment. (PNA)
