More than a million Pinoys save 56 MWh of energy during Earth Hour

MANILA, Philippines – The one-hour lights off in observance of Earth Hour last Saturday has enabled the Philippines to save at least 56 megawatt hours (MWh) of energy, according to data culled by power company Meralco and the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF).

In their post-estimate of the global event, the WWF said that over  a million Filipinos in 50 major cities and towns of the country participated in the Earth Hour. The WWF described this turnout as the Philippines’ “greatest display of solidarity” against climate change.

“The response we got was nothing short of amazing,” said WWF Climate Change and Energy Programme Head Yeb Saño.

“Filipinos truly showed the world that we can unite and stand together against climate change. Government, civil society, businesses and millions of individuals have made Earth Hour Philippines an overwhelming success,” Saño said.

The WWF said the participation of more than a million Filipinos in the Earth Hour resulted to saving some 56 MWh of energy in Luzon alone. This is equivalent to reducing greenhouse gas emission by as much as 30 tons.

The WWF said that the 56MWh saved energy is also equivalent to shutting down an entire coal-fired power plant.

“WWF-Philippines salutes all those who participated in this momentous event,” Saño said. “We should be proud of ourselves and the Philippines for making a stand. For those who weren’t able to join – I invite you to get ready for next year.” 

Last March 29, from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m., the Philippines joined cities in Europe, America and Asia by switching off lights in households, offices, malls, parks and other key areas. Based on its monitoring, the WWF said lights-off activities were instigated across the country.

The country’s flagship cities of Pasay, Manila and Parañaque held a switch-off ceremony and enveloped the entire Roxas Boulevard seaside strip in symbolic darkness. Makati followed suit with its own set of celebrations.

Other areas that reportedly held their own switch-off episode were Mandaluyong, Quezon City, Caloocan, Marikina, General Trias, Bais, Dumaguete, Dipolog, Zamboanga, Iligan, Talisay, Escalante, Baguio, Iloilo, Puerto Princesa, Tarlac, Laoag, Cadiz, San Fernando and Bauang in La Union, San Fernando in Pampanga, Santiago, San Jose in Nueva Ecija, Naga, Legazpi, Iriga, Calbayog, Ormoc, Samal, Tangub and Bongao in Tawi-Tawi.

Earth Hour Philippines was a  joint initiative of WWF, the Department of Energy, Presidential Task Force on Climate Change, Green Army, Earthday Network, and Philips Lighting Systems. Other partners include the CCP, Cemex, Leo Burnett, Arc Worldwide, Infinit1, Media-Meter, BBDO, Adobo Magazine, PDI, dzRH, Y! Speak, Ayala, Intel, Canon, Colliers, Honda, HSBC, Tetrapak, Coca-Cola, Jollibee, Starbucks and the SM group of companies.

Earth Hour, launched in Australia on March 31, 2007, was created to take a stand against global warming through the simple act of turning off the lights and electrical gadgets for one hour.