WV ready to join Earth Hour by switching off lights

BY JAIME S. CABAG JR.
ILOILO City – Western Visayas will again switch off lights to mark Earth Hour 2011 this March 26.
Local government units down to the barangay level in the region are expected to support the global event in compliance with Memorandum Circular No. 2011-41 issued by Secretary Jesse Robredo of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
The circular encourages all provincial governors, city and municipal mayors and punong barangays to organize their own Earth Hour events.
Earth Hour is a global event conceived to highlight energy conservation and environmental protection through the switching off of lights for an hour in the evening of the date of the event.
Organizers of Earth Hour 2011 led by the World Wide Fund for Nature – Philippines said this year’s event was conceived to go beyond the 60 minutes of darkness that will be caused by the switching off of lights.
Earth Hour 2011 National Director and WWF-Philippines Climate Unit head Atty. Gia Ibay pointed out that Earth Hour is about 60 minutes long but for lasting and effective results, Filipinos must inculcate the true spirit of the event into their lives, which is to reduce consumption of power, water and other critical resources.
Last year, various activities including lectures and fora on environment issues were held here to demonstrate the support of Ilonggos to the event.
Over a billion people from 128 countries participated in Earth Hour 2010, making it the largest environmental event in known human history.
The DILG regional office here said they have sent out copies of the memorandum circular to all local government units in Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo and Negros Occidental.
Robredo encourages local chief executives to switch off non-essential lights and electrical appliances at the provincial, municipal and city halls and other government facilities for at least one hour this Saturday starting at 8:30 p.m.
They may also conduct other relevant activities such as announcement of the Earth Hour during the flag-raising ceremony, hanging of banners, streamers or tarpaulins to generate awareness of the event, encouraging barangays to run their own event, encouraging people to sign up at www.earthhour.org and share stories of their actions that benefit the planet, telling the world through social media to further generate awareness, and continuing the use of compact fluorescent lamps instead of incandescent bulbs in all government installations.
The provincial government of Iloilo had its provincial environment and natural resources office to prepare the commemorative activities.
The City Environment and Natural Resources Office said the city government is readying activities to mark the event in coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and other stakeholders.
A series of activities featuring students and local artists and designed to highlight the event and raise public awareness about its importance is slated to be held at a mall here that will culminate in a switch-off ceremony. Top local government officials, government agencies, non-government organizations are expected to attend the switch-off activity.
The Department of Energy, according to Visayas Field Supervisor Engr. Rey Maleza, is supporting the event.
There are also activities being readied, some led by the business sector, in Bacolod City. The DILG provincial offices in Capiz and other provinces have disseminated Secretary Robredo’s memo circular to all local government units in the province. (JCM/JSC/PIA-6/PN)