Councilor Vladimir Cayabas has proposed an ordinance that, if and when approved, would appropriate P250,000.00 each year from the city government’s annual budget for the observance of Earth Hour and other related programs and activities in the city.
Suggested activities in the observance of Earth Hour may include but not limited to the following: recognition of youth climate heroes, information education campaign on the impact of climate change and causes of urban decay, walk and bike for the environment, and presentation of the city government’s core agenda on environmental conservation.
To ensure the formulation and implementation of a city-wide Earth Hour program, an Earth hour working committee shall be created consisting of the city administrator as the head and representatives from concerned government offices, agencies, civil society organizations as the members.
Earth Hour is the world’s largest environmental movement organized by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and is held annually to encourage individuals, communities, and businesses around the world to turn off electric lights for one hour from 8:30 to 9:30 PM on the last Saturday of March in support of all initiatives to counter climate change and raise awareness about it.
According to Cayabas, the observance of Earth Hour is a “great reminder to our citizens of the importance of making environmentally conscious decisions in their daily lives.”
He said the proposed Earth Hour program is in line with the city government’s core agenda on environment regeneration and climate and disaster resilience.
He further stressed that the Philippines had declared and confirmed its commitment to the goals of the United Nations Framework on Climate Change Convention.
The proposed ordinance has been approved on first reading by the city council and referred to the city council’s Committee on Appropriations and Finance Cluster A (Budget, Appropriations, and Expenditures) for review. **Jordan G. Habbiling
