Iloilo City Mayor Jose Espinosa III recently issued a memorandum calling for all city residents to participate in Earth Hour, which takes place today, March 24, between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.

“The entire world [has] become witness to the occurrence of horrifying calamities brought about by climate change,” he wrote. “[Earth Hour] is an effective medium of raising awareness [among] the general public to the pernicious and devastating effect of climate change.”

The memorandum called for “all Ilonggos and all who presently live, or sojourn, in the City of Iloilo” to switch off their lights during the aforementioned time period.

In Negros Occidental, Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. recently encouraged local residents to take part in the occasion.

Earth Hour is an annual global event conducted by the World Wildlife Fund, where individuals, communities, households, and businesses are encouraged to turn off non-essential lights for one hour.

To date, over 7,000 cities and more than 170 countries and territories regularly participate in the event./WDJ