Palace urges public to join Earth Hour 2015 celebration

MANILA -– Malacanang has encouraged the public to voluntarily switch off all lights for one hour on March 28 as the nation joins the world in the celebration of Earth Hour 2015.

”We encourage our people to participate in Earth Hour 2015 by voluntarily switching off all lights for one hour from 8:30 to 9:30 o’clock in the evening on Saturday, March 28,” Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in an interview with state-run DZRB Radyo ng Bayan on Sunday.

”In so doing, Filipinos will be showing their solidarity with the rest of the world in efforts to combat climate change, thereby promoting a cleaner, healthier and greener world,” he added.

According to the local organizers, the main switch-off will be held at the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City.

Earth Hour is a worldwide grassroots movement of the World Wildlife Fund to unite people to take action for the planet.

This year’s global tagline for Earth Hour is “Use Your Power to Change Climate Change.”

The Philippines has been championing the switch-off for Earth Hour since 2008 and has topped participation records from 2009 to 2013, thus earning the title of “Earth Hour Hero Country.”

This year, Earth Hour Philippines will be donating portable solar lamps to off-grid communities to help them to safely and economically light up their homes.

”We echo the statement of Earth Hour Philippines as follows: ‘When we unite towards a common goal, we can change climate change.’ Let us all participate in Earth Hour 2015,” Coloma said.