Makati City expects huge crowd for Earth Hour 2014 on March 29

Around 1,000 people are expected to gather in Makati to mark Earth Hour 2014 on March 29 with a celebration to be spearheaded by the city government.

In an announcement on Monday, the Makati government said the event would be held with the support of key environmental advocates in the private sector at the Ayala Tower One, Ayala Triangle Gardens.

Mayor Jejomar Erwin S. Binay said around 1,000 people, including representatives from the city’s 33 barangays, commercial establishments and environmental groups, were expected to attend.

Participants will be treated to “spectacular performances” from this year’s overall Caracol champion, Bangkal High School, among other groups.

“We are proud to join the rest of the world in showing our support for the global movement to reduce greenhouse gas  emissions and help cool down the earth,” Binay said.

He called on city residents and business establishments to make it a daily habit to conserve energy by switching off lights and other electrical equipment not in use.

“The extreme weather events we recently experienced should be enough to jolt us out of complacency and compel us to make a conscious effort to drastically bring down the level of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions we release into the atmosphere,” he added.

Binay said the city government had been making headway in its bid to reduce Makati’s carbon footprint with its GHG Management Framework Plan now undergoing final revision.

The Earth Hour 2014 event is organized by the city government through the Department of Environmental Services, Makati Cooperative Development Office and private sector partners.