Mayor Honey pinangunahan Ang Earth Hour Philippines 2024 launch

PINANGUNAHAN ni Mayor Honey Lacuna ang paglulunsad ng Earth Hour Philippines 2024 sa lungsod ng Maynila.

Sa kanyang talumpati, pinasalamatan ni Lacuna ang WWF Philippines sa pagpili sa Maynila bilang venue ng ‘Earth Hour’ ngayong taon na may temang “Switch off Plastic Pollution, Give an Hour for Earth”.

“The Philippines has been actively participating in the annual Earth Hour since 2009. And we in Manila feel very honored to be hosting this year’s Earth Hour on its 15th year celebration,” pahayag ng lady mayor.

“The city has partnered with WWF Philippines last 2020 for the Plastic Smart Cities (PSC) Project which aims to achieve 30% reduction of plastic waste leakage into the open environment by 2024, thus, contributing to the 100% reduction of plastic waste leakage in the City of Manila by 2030. The project aims to focus on generating entrepreneurial solutions designed to accomplish the main objective of reducing plastic pollution in the city.”

“In our own little way, we have been helping in cleaning up the waterways in our juridical area through our own small teams without any other goal but to pick up trash and clean the bay. We have dedicated teams meant to address three different waterfronts in the nation’s capital; Baseco Beach, Roxas Boulevard, and our esteros and creeks which lessens the chances of plastic wastes to eventually end up and float to the open sea. Furthermore, we are very proud to share that the City of Manila is the first city in the National Capital Region to adopt a City Plan of Action on Marine Litter (CPOA-ML) and localize the National Plan of Action on Marine Litter (NPOA-ML),” saad nito.

Dagdag pa ni Lacuna: “We have also partnered with different private and non-government organizations for waste diversion projects and incentivized plastic waste collection that aim to reduce the amount of plastics going into our waterways and landfills. These are 1) Kolek, Kilo Kita Para sa Walastik na Maynila, 2) Alaskalikasan Wrapper Redemption Program, 3) Aling Tindera: A Waste to Cash Program, and 4) Tapon to Ipon Project to name a few.”

Sa kanyang paghikayat sa bawat Isa lalo na ang mga na sumama sa pagkilos at sumali sa Earth Hour sa March 23, sinabi ni Lacuna na malaking tulong kung ang bawat Isa ay nagpapatay ng non-essential lights sa loob ng isang oras.

“Let us always remember that Earth Hour is more than just how much energy is saved when we switch off our lights for one hour. This is more than that. This is about inspiring people to unite for our Mother Earth and stand against the destruction of the environment and climate change,” Sabi nito.

Sinigurado rin ng alkalde sa WWF ang suporta ng lungsod sa iisang adhikain na protekyunan ang kapaligiran at pigilan ang daloy ng plastic pollution sa mga katubigan sa paligid ng bansa.

“As the country’s capital, we’re keen on using the influence we have in engaging other cities and Filipinos to do their part in saving the environment,” dagdag pa nito.
Kaugnay nito, nanawagan ng residente ng lungsod na patayin ang ilaw ay maglaan ng isang oras sa inang Kalikasan sa darating na Sabado March 23, 2024 sa ganap na 8:30 p.m.

Hinimok ni Lacuna Ang mga Manileño na tumulong na lumikha ng ‘Biggest Hour for Earth’ sa pamamagitan ng pagkunsumo ng isang oras o 60 minuto ‘doing anything positive for our one shared home.’

Bilang preparasyon sa Earth Hour 2024 celebration, ang city government-led launch ay ginawa sa Manila City Hall sa pamamagitan ng Department of Public Services-Manila, in partnership of WWF-Philippines.

Tuwing ‘Earth Hour,’ ang lahat ng tao sa buong mundo ay nagpapatay ng kanilang ilaw ganap na 8:30 p.m. sa kanilang local times sa huling Sabado ng Marso.

Ang mga businesses and government organizations, pati na ang community and political leaders, ay nakikilahok sa nasabing gawain na pagbibigay ng boses sa mga tao para sa kinabukasan ng planeta at katuwang na nagtatrabaho para makalikha ng sustainable low carbon future sa inang kalikasan.

Sa pamamagitan ng pagpatay ng ilaw, ang isang gagawa nito ay maglalaan ng isang oras upang muling ibalik buhay ng daigdig. Lahat ng tao sa daigdin ay nakikilahok bilang pagpapakita ng ay ng simbolikong suporta at paglikha ng kailang kamalayan sa mga environmental issues na labis na nakakaapekto dito. (ANDI GARCIA)