3 PH cities feted as finalists in Earth Hour City Challenge

THREE cities in the Philippines have made the cut as finalists in the Earth Hour City Challenge (EHCC), the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) announced recently.

The cities are San Carlos in Negros Occidental, Santa Rosa in Laguna and Makati in the National Capital Region.

One of these cities will become the Philippines’ Earth Hour capital, which also has the chance to become the world’s Earth Hour capital.

Seven cities in the Philippines originally took the 2015-2016 EHCC—a yearlong initiative to “promote sustainable practices for cities to transition to a low-carbon future.” These cities were: Cagayan de Oro, Makati, Naga, Parañaque, Quezon City, San Carlos and Santa Rosa.

A total 124 countries worldwide took the EHCC.

“We laud all seven Philippine cities for promoting energy efficiency, renewable energy, recycling, green transportation, plus innovation,” Earth Hour Philippines Director Atty. Gia Ibay said in a statement.

“Our theme for 2016 is Bridging the Gap to 2020 and is about inspiring solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improving the way food, water and energy are produced and consumed. We believe that properly developed, cities can lead the way to a sustainable future,” she added.

The winner of the EHCC will be announced by the WWF by October 2016.

Meanwhile, the 2016 Earth Hour will be conducted on March 19 from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The Philippines has been participating in the Earth Hour since 2008.

“We are known as the Earth Hour hero country because more Philippine towns and cities participate in the movement than in any other nation. We hope to use EHCC as a platform to showcase urban solutions which other Philippine cities can emulate,” Ibay concluded.