South Cotabateños asked to join Earth Hour

Saturday 26th of March 2011

KORONADAL CITY, March 26 (PIA) –- All residents of ten municipalities and one city of South Cotabato are enjoined to switch off lights and electrical appliances for one hour tonight in observance of the Earth Hour.

“We appeal to all residents of South Cotabato to switch off their lights and electrical appliances on March 26, Saturday, from 8:30 until 9:30 in the evening,” Ramon Ponce de Leon, provincial environment management officer appealed.

The provincial government has released a memorandum order to all offices in the province reminding all officials and employees to observe Earth Hour even in their respective residences.

De Leon said the provincial government has also ordered all the local government units (LGUs) in the area to participate and conduct information dissemination on the activity.

“I hope the barangay officials will use the scheduled synchronized barangay assembly to encourage villagers to join the Earth Hour,” he said.

The synchronized nationwide barangay assembly is also scheduled today.

“We have already witnessed the effects of global warming in tsunamis, flash floods, and other destructive natural disasters,” he said.

“Let us contribute in the efforts to reduce the green houses gases in the atmosphere and prevent further destruction of the ozone layer. One of the ways to do this not to use electricity,” he appealed.

Earth Hour is an initiative of the World Wildlife Foundation, an international environmental organization whose ultimate goal is to build a future where people live in harmony with nature.

It was started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia with more than 2 million people and more than 2,000 businesses turning their lights off for one hour to show support to the stand against climate change.

Earth Hour 2010 gained most support with a record of 128 countries and territories joining the global display of climate action. (DE Doguiles/PIA)