JOIN Earth Hour, yes, but try to use less power the rest of the year.
This was the challenge that Nida Cabrera, head of Cebu City’s Community Environment and Natural Resources Office, raised this week for all households and offices.
Start by switching off lights and electrical appliances from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 24.
Earth Hour is usually celebrated every last Saturday of March, but because March 30, 2018 falls within Holy Week, this year’s campaign is being held a week early.
“This is a global campaign to showcase what we can do to combat climate change. This is a worldwide initiative to have individuals, communities, businesses, and governments participate in activities against global warming,” Cabrera said.
“We will campaign to reduce power consumption not only during Earth Hour but all throughout the year, to decrease pollution,” Cabrera added.
Under her leadership, the Cebu City Government has revived its policy not to collect trash unless this is segregated; this is one way to encourage recycling and reduction of waste at source.
“At that time (when implementation began in 2011), we were able to reduce our waste by 30 percent. It was stopped when we transferred and dumped our garbage in Consolacion town. But we have had to revive it now,” Cabrera said.
“We are asking the people in our communities to follow the law,” Cabrera said, pointing out that barangays should be more involved since the primary responsibility of collecting garbage is theirs.
Cabrera strictly implemented the recycling of garbage to reduce solid waste and at the same time earn income when she was the village chief of Barangay Luz, Cebu City. (EOB/VoxPop Cebu)