Dabawenyos mark Earth Hour at SM Davao

Hundreds of Davaoeños flocked SM City Davao for the observation of the Earth Hour at the mall’s Open Parking last Saturday.
 The celebration was kicked off with a parade around the mall which was participated in by the mall tenants, and both private and government agencies—Department of Energy, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Education and Bureau of Fire Protection. The local government of Davao was also in full support of the movement as members and staff of the City Mayor’s Office, Museo Dabawenyo, Central 911, City Treasurer’s Office, City Assessor’s Office, City Social Service and Development Office, City ENRO, City Administrator’s Office, City Agriculture’s Office and other organizations joined the event.
 “This evening, all 48 SM Supermalls across the nation and our 6 malls in China, will simultaneously turn off their lights for the Earth Hour – reinforcing the statement that the time to take action against global warming is now,” mall manager Lynette Lopez shares in her welcome address.
 SM City Davao has been supporting WWF’s Earth Hour since 2008. The mall’s commitment to supporting the cause has helped raise environmental awareness not only among SM’s shoppers and business partners but the community as well. In 2012, SM Davao was the official Earth Hour Switch Off site for Mindanao.
 At 8:30 PM, 100% of our malls’ building lighted logos and 50% of our mall interior and perimeter lights were switched off.
 “Earth Hour does not end when the lights are switched back on. It is a yearlong commitment to reduce our use of energy, water and other resources. It is also about climate adaptation. The Philippines is the third nation most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. We sit on Ground Zero of storms birthed from the Pacific. It can no longer be business us usual. Let tonight’s Earth Hour remind us of our shared duty and commitment to build a climate-resilient Philippines. WWF thanks SM Davao for leading the ceremony to unite all of us behind a common purpose,” shares Junrey Tubongbanua in behalf of WWF.
 Amid the rain, the program proceeded with entertainment numbers from the fire dancers, the drum beaters and the cute kids of Matthew 19:14 band.   
 Other organizations who expressed support were Philippine Eagle Foundation, Philippine Red Cross, Boy Scouts of the Philippines, Girl Scouts of the Philippines, Little Pearls of Heaven and MTC Academy.