Diocese of Legazpi urged parishioners to join observance of Earth Hour

Bishop Baylon

LEGAZPI CITY --- Upon the urging of Bishop Joel Baylon of the Diocese of Legazpi, parishioners in Albay joined the nationwide observance of Earth Hour by switching off the lights for 60 minutes from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. last Saturday.

Baylon in a message said, “Let us join in the celebration of Earth Hour by turning off our lights for at least an hour as a sign of support.”

The province has been observing this significant environmental event yearly. It is aimed at raising the level of awareness of the public on the salient issues of carbon emission or the so-called carbon footprint brought about by greenhouse gases and its effect to climate change.

The bishop said that aside from the observance of Earth Hour he also encouraged the public to raise the level of awareness on the danger to the environment brought by the use of plastics.

“In whatever way, we can let us raise awareness about one-time-usage of plastic – let us lead in avoiding these and other forms of plastic and pollutants, as much as we could, as our way of caring for Mother Earth,” he said.

Albay province has passed an ordinance totally banning the use of plastic bags in all stores, markets, groceries, and supermarkets.

The Earth Hour was observed in previous years with fanfare and candlelight led by thousands of volunteers in the 15 towns and 3 cities of the province.

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has called on all local government units across the country to participate in the worldwide observance of Earth Hour 2019 on Saturday.

Several big malls and other commercial establishments in the province joined the event by turning off their lights at least for an hour from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia when 2.2 million residents switched off the lights of their homes and offices in order to pledge their support in saving the environment.

Organizers of the Earth Hour in the Philippine estimated that millions of Filipinos have been joining the “one-hour-switch-off” worldwide.