THE Earth Hour activity last Saturday evening saved 47 megawatts of power across the Visayas, according to the Department of Energy.
Saturday night’s switching off of lights lasted from 8:30p.m. to 9:30p.m. The highest load reduction rate was from Samar and Leyte, saving 17mw closely followed by Cebu as it saved 16mw. The islands of Bohol, Panay and Negros came next after saving 4mw, 3mw and 2mw respectively.
This year’s Earth Hour event brought together people who share the same goal of saving our planet.
City Councilor Nida Cabrera thanked the people who willingly participated in the advocacy and actively promoted the event.
“It is small effort of the people but it has a big impact,” said City Councilor Nida Cabrera who was in Cebu centerpiece Earth Hour event in Plaza Independencia.
Cabrera said that they will exert more efforts in programs that will save the planet. She added that they will focus and strengthen their campaigns for renewable energy source and environmental sustainability.
Atty. Angela Consuela “Guia” Ibay, expressed her gratitude to the Cebuanos for the strong overwhelming support, especially that it is the first time that Cebu was chosen as one of the key cities to host the event.
“The message of Earth Hour is to unite and invite everyone to join the world in one voice. That there’s willingness to address the effects of climate change,” she said.
Along with Cebu, this year’s Earth Hour main event was also hosted by the cities of Davao and Makati. There were a total of 107 cities and more than 1000 municipalities in the Philippines who participated in the cause. /Sean Timothy Salvador, UP Cebu Intern