In support of Earth Hour: Celso leads shutting of lights
Mayor Celso Lobregat last night spearheaded in the shutting off of lights at 8:30, dramatizing support to the global campaign to reduce the impact of global warming dubbed Earth Hour.
The shutting off of lights plunged the entire Zamboanga City into darkness for 60 minutes. It was simultaneously done with all other cities and countries worldwide, at exactly 8:30 p.m. with a preceding countdown signalled by the sounding of the City Hall siren at 8:29.
Mayor Celso Lobregat in his message during a program held at the Zamcelco covered court in Putik, thanked the Zamboanguenos for their cooperation and support to the global campaign but urged them to continue initiating measures to help reduce the impact of global warming.
Global warming is the term used to describe a gradual increase in the average temperature of the Earth's atmosphere and its oceans, a change that is believed to be permanently changing the Earth’s climate.
Earth Hour, a 60-minute blackout initiated by the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) and spearheaded in the country by the Earth Day Network Philippines chaired by former Environment Secretary Elisea Gozun, was aimed to raise awareness on the detrimental effects of global warming.
Aside from shutting off lights and electrical appliances, Mayor Lobregat said people can also help preserve and protect Mother Earth by planting trees; recycling tins, bottles, plastic bags and papers and conserving rice and water and many others.
“As we observe Earth Hour today, we are reminded of the devastation wrought by two storm surge incidents to our environment and our people residing in coastal areas on November 27, 2007. Those incidents were believed to be caused by climate change spawned by global warming. The unpredictable weather brings in rains in normally dry and warm months”, the mayor declared.
He likewise enumerated the initiatives being undertaken by the city government to meet the threats posed by climate change stressing that his administration considers environmental protection an undertaking that will not only benefit the Zamboanguenos of today but also their children and grandchildren.
Aside from tagging operations and spot mapping activities, he said the city initiates inter-agency cooperation, advocacies such as the Summit on Disaster Preparedness for Global Warming and Food Security last May 27, 2008, the February 5 forum on climate change adaptation and participation in Earth Hour activities; reforestation such as tree planting activities in the forests, highways and mangrove areas; infrastructure development whereby 383 flood control projects that included drainage, riprap/slope and shoreline protection amounting to P273.67 million were constructed in 3 years’ time. “We also continue with water improvement projects in cooperation with the Water District and several others”
Zamboanga City first joined Earth Hour in 2008, barely a year after the initiative started in Sydney Australia where an estimated 2.2 million people shut off their lights to raise awareness about global warming.
The Earth Hour support movement in Zamboanga for the third year was the result of a meeting initiated by Mayor Lobregat last week attended by representatives of all sectors in the city.
He stressed that the observance of Earth Hour is very significant as the city and the entire Mindanao is experiencing power and water shortage brought about by the dry spell.
The Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative has systematized the citywide blackout by shutting off/ resuming power in different feeders in an interval of 15 minutes each.
Lobregat emphasized that the city should take a critical stand in preserving and protecting Mother Earth, as Zamboanga is not spared from incidences of climate change spawned by global warming.
The Earth Hour program was highlighted by the signing of the declaration of commitment to the campaign by the representatives of the different sectors.
The campaign to reduce the impact of global warming should continue beyond Earth Hour, the mayor added.
Those who took part in the Earth Hour program were Zamcelco manager Rey Ramos who welcomed the guest and City Administrator Antonio Orendain Jr. who gave the closing remarks.
Congresspersons Beng Climaco and Erbie Fabian of Districts I and II respectively were also present to sign the pledge of commitment.
Archbishop Romulo Valles led the invocation while the ecumenical prayer was led by Hji. Amilpasa Bandaying, Rev. Fr. Teofilo Pimentel and Rev. Ira Lee Rosalita. (Sheila Covarrubias)