Ilonggos encouraged to join Earth Hour on March 28
Department of Energy Undersecretary Roy Kyamko encouraged Ilonggos to join the Earth Hour 2009 which will be held from 8:30 to 9:30 P.M. on March 28.
The turning-off of lights for one hour of cities and towns not only in the country but across the world is part of a global action on global warming.
Undersecretary Kyamko presided over the Earth Hour Keyplayers meeting held recently in Iloilo City to ensure the well coordinated conduct of the event in this part of the country.
The meeting was attended by representatives of various sectors that include the academe, religious groups, non-government organizations, concerned national government agencies, business and private sectors.
Kyamko said the support of the various sectors is significant in the success of the event as this year’s Earth Hour aims to involve at least 10 million Filipinos nationwide.
According to the World Wide Fund (WWF), as of March 4, Earth Hour 2009 has gotten commitments from over 70 countries and the number is growing each day.
Last year, Earth Hour has reached 370 cities and towns in more than 35 countries around the world. An estimated of 50 to 100 million people around the world have switched of their lights, including an estimated 1 million Filipinos.
Some of the global landmarks that participated in the event last year, which were darkened for one hour, were Golden Gate Bridge, Rome’s Coliseum, the Coke Billboard in Times Square and Jumeirah Hotel in Dubai.
In the Philippines, some of the landmaks that turned their lights off were the Manila City Hall Clock Tower, the Mall of Asia and the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
The event is being organized by the WWF-Philippines in collaboration with the Department Of Energy, The Green Army and the SWITCH Movement. (PIA)