OBSERVANCE OF 'EARTH HOUR' IN RP SUCCESSFUL,
SAYS ENERGY CHIEF
[PHOTO AT LEFT COURTESY OF PHILSTAR - EARTH HOUR: Vehicle lights are the only illumination seen on Roxas Boulevard after lights were turned off in Pasay as well as other cities participating in Earth Hour starting at 8 p.m. last Saturday. Photo by AP]
MANILA, MARCH 31, 2008 (GMA-TV) Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes declared the observance of Earth Hour successful, shortly after the lights were on from a “one-hour switch off" that began 8 p.m. Saturday.
Radio dzBB’s Roland Bola reported that lights went out at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) complex for an hour in observance of the Earth Hour, a global campaign to raise awareness on climate change.
Leading the "switch off" ceremonies, Reyes said that the activity could help raise environmental awareness and on proper use of energy.
Organizations that participated in the “switch off" staged various programs with environmental themes at the CCP. They also conducted signature campaign to signify support for efforts for the environment, the report said.
It added that shopping malls in Metro Manila joined in the activity by switching off 50 percent of the lights in the establishments.
Meanwhile, lights in Malacañang were at “normal" state during the “switch off," dzBB’s Aileen Intia reported from the Palace.
Lights in other areas near vital installations such as the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and the Manila Domestic Airport were also on "normal" state.
But lights went out at exactly 8 p.m. along the stretch of Roxas Boulevard covering Manila, Pasay and Parañaque cities.
Some lights on billboards in Quezon City were put off but many business establishments were lighted. Police were deployed to areas where thugs might victimize passersby, the report added. - GMAnews.TV