Celso spearheads preps for Earth Hour
Mayor Celso Lobregat yesterday afternoon convened different stakeholders in the city to discuss about Zamboanga’s participation in the observance of Earth Hour 2010, a worldwide campaign to promote energy efficiency, conservation and to address climate change, set on March 27 at 8:30 in the evening.
Last year, Zamboanga also actively participated in the same event by switching off lights in all buildings in the city proper and the barangays from 8:30-9:30.
The Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative (ZAMCELCO) has devised a blackout schedule for the different feeders with a 20 minute interval each for the duration of the Earth Hour.
The City Environment and Natural Resources Office (OCENR) is organizing the event in coordination with the City Administrator’s Office and the different agencies concerned.
A program is set at the ZAMCELCO covered court in Putik on March 27 starting at 7 p.m. Mayor Lobregat will lead the switching off of lights at 8:30.
Earth Hour 2010 is spearheaded by the Department of Energy (DOE) and Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) in collaboration with the Green Army and the SWITCH Movement.
Zamboanga City’s participation in Earth Hour activity is borne out of the fact that global warming is the greatest threat besetting the world, where among others, continued reliance on electricity is causing dramatic increase in the earth’s temperature.
On March 27, numerous cities and towns across the world will turn off their lights for an hour, known as Earth Hour that would send a power message that it is possible to take action on global warming.
Zamboanga has experienced the effects of global warming, one of which was the storm surge incidents in 2007 that brought devastating effects to the environment and the people.
Present during the meeting at City Hall yesterday afternoon were representatives from the different national offices, agencies, institutions of the government, the military, police, utilities, business sector and civic organizations. (Sheila Covarrubias)