Committees to lead Earth Hour formed

ILOILO City – Various committees were recently formed to ensure a coordinated holding of Earth Hour 2010 in Panay Island from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on March 27.

Earth Hour aims raise public awareness on the need to take action against climate change.

Philippine Information Agency 6 (PIA-6) Director Janet Mesa said the Department of Energy is the convenor of the Earth Hour 2010 in Panay Island, with PIA assisting it.

The working committees and their respective chairmen are:
• Program Committee -- chaired by the Iloilo City Cultural Heritage Conservation Council (ICCHCC)
• Countdown Committee -- chaired by PIA-6
• Exhibit Committee -- chaired by Green Forum Panay
• Documentation Committee -- chaired by the Department of Energy; and
• Security Committee -- chaired by the Philippine National Police 6.

Earth Hour is being held under the auspices of the World Wide Fund, the Department of Energy, Green Army Network and SWITCH Movement in the Philippines.

In Panay Island, aside from ICCHCC, Green Forum Panay, and the police, other government agencies and non-government organizations have also committed their support to the global event.

As of March 4, Mesa said some of the agencies and organizations that have given their support to the Earth Hour 2010 are:
• city and provincial governments of Iloilo
• University of the Philippines Visayas
• Department of Education
• Commission on Higher Education
• Department of Environment and Natural Resources
• Department of Science and Technology; and
• Girl Scouts of the Philippines.

Also, giving their support to the campaign are the Jaro Archdiocese Social Action Center, SM City Iloilo, Iloilo Business Club, Iloilo CODE, Photographic Society of Iloilo, students’ organizations, Freedom from Debt Coalition and the different chambers of commerce. (PIA/PN)