Supporting Earth Hour!

A report from Cebu Daily News

commended a mall, a fastfood chain, two hotels and an advertisers’ organization who switched off lights, billboards and signages in Cebu City last night to join the global movement Earth Hour, a one-hour “lights out” event that aims to fuel awareness on global warming.

Over 700 mall tenants of SM City Cebu expressed their support by turning out 50 to 75 percent of their light sources from 8 to 9 p.m., said Ma. Teresa Mempin, assistant mall manager.

More than 200 security personnel were fielded at the main mall, Northwing and car park to ensure that no untoward incidents could occur during the activity.

The mall employed a 100 percent and 50 percent lights shutoff schemes. SM logo, dropdown banners, photo billboards, pylon tower, landscape and advertising boxes were all turned off.

Only 50 percent of the lights in areas such as the covered and open parking, transport terminal, lobby lights, mall hallways and transport terminal were turned off.

Ariel Potian, regional customer relations service manager of Shopping Center Management Corp. (SM Supermalls), said the mall’s participation in this global awareness is through “turning the lights out” so that normal operations can continue.

“We have actively participated in activities that promote electricity conservation and thus, lower carbon emission. Environment is one of our key, priority areas in fulfilling our corporate social responsibility,” Potian said.

Members of the Outdoor Advertisers Association of the Philippines Cebu Chapter (OAAP) switched off the lights on about a hundred billboards maintained by the organization.

OAAP president Mary Ann Alcordo said the 12-member companies joined hands to push for the environmental initiative.”

Cebu City Marriott Hotel added a twist to the 60-minute event observed by different countries worldwide. They offered a seafood candlelight dinner buffet at the Pool Bar, Garden Café and Palm Lounge.

Fourteen Chowking stores in Cebu participated in the event. Chowking is an oriental fastfood chain under Jollibee Foods Corp.

Marlon Sison, customer care manager of Chowking, said all JFC member stores such as Greenwich, Delifrance and Jollibee also joined the event.

“Normal operations are not disrupted because we still have lights on. Only billboards, signages and pylons are turned off,” Sison said.

Waterfront Mactan officials said they had a 5-minute dry run yesterday at the lobby for the Earth Hour activity.

Cebu Daily News turned out its main lights in the newsroom, lobby and other offices as well in solidarity with the global initiative.

World Wildlife Fund encouraged the rest of the public to join Earth Hour and switch off their lights for one hour.

Earth Hour was launched in Sydney, Australia last year and was able to move 2.2 million people and 2,100 business establishments to turn off their lights.

The collective effort reduced the city’s energy consumption by 10.2 percent for one hour.

Image from Inhabitat.com