This year’s observance of Earth Hour in Puerto Princesa City held at Balayong People’s Park highlights messages about intergenerational responsibility and people’s responsibility to Mother Earth beyond the hour.
Fire dances, live performances by Banwa Dancers, City Choir, and local fire dancers entertained the crowd while the electric lights are off from 8:30pm until 9:30pm. Boys Scout of the Philippines (BSP) actively participated the event and in full force.
The Office of the City ENRO, headed by Atty. Carlo B. Gomez spearheaded the event.
In his message, City Councilor Luis Marcaida III emphasized the importance of “intergenerational responsibility”.
“The doctrine of intergenerational responsibility—a present-day duty for the benefit of forthcoming generations, is the doctrine famously pronounced by the Supreme Court in the case of Oposa vs. Factoran,”
City Councilor Henry Gadiano, who co-chaired the Sangguniang Panlungsod’s Committee on Environmental Protection and Natural Resources informed the public about the City Council’s legislative actions and ordinances that are aimed to protect and properly manage the city’s environment. He mentioned the City Ordinances 993 and 396 as among those actions. City Ordinance No. 993 is an ordinance that regulates the use of single-use plastic and Styrofoam, while City Ordinance No. 396 is the Code of Conduct for the Conservation, Protection and Restoration of the Sources of Life in Puerto Princesa City which is also the city’s environmental code.
City Environment and Natural Resources Officer, Atty. Carlo B. Gomez said that the Earth Hour reminds us of our responsibility to the environment and Mother Earth beyond the hour.
He said that one French national who witnessed the Earth Hour 2023 at the Balayong People’s Park was impressed on how Puerto Princesa City observed and organized the event, something that the foreigner said, he did not witness in his country.
Jemimah Joy Zabala, Miss Puerto Princesa 2021 and candidate for Miss Philippines Earth 2023 also urged the public to take care of the environment for the next generation, and for the generations to come.
“Let us not stop teaching them. This (responsibility) is a biblical mandate as steward of God’s creation. I asked for everyone’s support and let us show the world that we are Earth warriors,” Zabala said.
Also present during the event were Atty. Arnel Pedrosa, City Administrator, DENR PENRO Forester Felizardo Cayatoc, city employees, media, civic organizations, students, among others.
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