ILOILO City – Various sectors in this southern city joined Earth Hour 2021 on March 27 from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
The City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) led the observance by switching off the lights in the metropolis’ public plazas.
Likewise, the lights along Iloilo River Esplanade as well as along Diversion Road in Mandurriao district towards Barangay Sambag, Jaro district were switched off.
The Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) headed by Police Colonel Uldarico Garbanzos deployed mobile patrol vehicles on the streets to ensure the safety of everyone during the dark hour. They were also augmented by the city’s force multipliers such as barangay tanods.
Earth Hour, an annual global environmental movement organized by the World Wildlife Fund, started in 2007 as a single city initiative in Sydney, Australia.
It has grown into a global movement with hundreds of millions of people from more than 7,000 cities and towns in 178 countries and territories across every continent switching off their lights, creating history as the world’s greatest environmental action.
In the Philippines, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu also enjoined Filipinos to support the effort to mitigate the increasing effects of climate change.
“Now more than ever, environmental responsibility is critical and must be sustained. Let us do our share and switch off for an hour in support of a healthy future for humankind and the environment,” Cimatu said.
However, the DENR chief emphasized that beyond this symbolic action, Filipinos should reduce electrical consumption to lessen carbon footprint and emissions generated by carbon dioxide and fossil fuel, which are major causes of climate change.
Cimatu also proposed shifting to renewable sources of energy such as solar technology and use of light-emitting diode (LED) light bulbs, which draw less power compared to incandescent and fluorescent lights.
Supporting worthy causes like the Earth Hour movement has become more significant than ever, Cimatu said, noting the importance of nature conservation in combatting climate change, biodiversity loss and even health risks.
He said that while the DENR addresses deforestation, plastic pollution, and illegal wildlife trade through its policies and programs, Filipinos are also encouraged to do their share.
“Educate yourselves, spread awareness, support government campaigns, and rethink ways how to eat, buy and travel. Let us take climate actions especially now that we are in the midst of a health crisis. When we protect our climate, we protect our health,” Cimatu appealed.
Among the public and private sectors in Iloilo City who joined the Earth Hour campaign through their respective Facebook pages include Iloilo Science and Technology University (ISAT-U) Student Republic-Iloilo City Campus, Angelicum School Iloilo, Youth for the Environment In School Organization of Iloilo City National High School (YES-O ICNHS), Red Cross Youth-Iloilo, Seda Atria, Boy Scouts of the Philippines Western Visayas Region, Panay News, RMN Iloilo, and various malls among others.
“We call all the people and the globe to come together and support efforts to tackle climate change. Let us raise awareness towards the need to take and encourage long term actions,” read part of ISAT-U Student Republic Iloilo City Campus’s call.
“We must reduce the size of carbon footprints of individuals, turn off the lights and plug off electronic devices when it’s not in use, consider walking or to ride a bike, reduce the use of plastics, convince other people around you to save energy and be politically engaged citizen in order to help prevent global warming. Our actions today will determine the course of all our futures,” they added.
The YES-O ICNHS, on the other hand, emphasized that though global circumstances are different this year due to the pandemic, people still have an incredible opportunity to make an impact – online and from home – by speaking up for nature and bringing global attention to the issues facing the planet.
They noted that Earth Hour goes far beyond the symbolic action of switching off for “it has become a catalyst for positive environmental impact, driving major legislative changes by harnessing the power of the people and collective action.”/PN
