Palace encourages Pinoys to join Earth Hour 2015 on March 28

Malacañang on Sunday urged Filipinos to take part in the observation of Earth Hour 2015 on March 28 to support efforts to combat climate change.

 

"We encourage our people to participate in Earth Hour 2015 by voluntarily switching off all lights for one hour from 8:30 to 9:30 in the evening on Saturday, March 28," Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said on dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

 

"In so doing, Filipinos will be showing their solidarity with the rest of the world in efforts to combat climate change, thereby promoting a cleaner, healthier and greener world," he added.

 

The Philippines will be joining the world in celebrating this year's Earth Hour and the main switch-off will be held at the Quezon City Memorial Circle. 

 

"The Philippines has been championing the switch-off for Earth Hour since 2008 and has topped participation records from 2009 to 2013, thus earning the title of 'Earth Hour Hero Country,'" according to the Palace official.

 

This year's global tagline for Earth Hour is "Use Your Power to Change Climate Change."

 

Earth Hour is a worldwide grassroots movement of the World Wide Fund to unite people to take action for the planet, Coloma noted.

 

Earth Hour Philippines will donate portable solar lamps to off-grid communities this year to "help them to safely and economically light up their homes," he said.

 

Meanwhile, Coloma said the Energy department is focused on the country's power situation where power supply is tight because of increased demand and a maintenance shutdown of Malampaya natural gas facility that started last week.

 

"Kaya ang pokus ng ating Department of Energy ay ‘yung promoting energy conservation measures, at pinapakiusapan ang ating mga kababayan hinggil sa boluntaryong pagtitipid... at patuloy po tayong sinusuportahan ng private sector sa kanilang paglahok sa interruptible load program na kung saan ay gumagamit sila ng sariling generator sets para mabawasan ‘yung overall demand sa ating power supply system," he said.

 

As of March 16, 79 companies and one government office have joined ILP.  — Kathryn Mae P. Tubadeza/JDS, GMA News