LIGHTS OUT. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Western Visayas is urging the public to switch off lights for one hour to show their solidarity with the Earth Hour celebration on Saturday (March 26, 2022). The global environmental campaign aims to raise awareness on climate change and energy saving.(Photo lifted from Earth Hour Home FB) ILOILO CITY - Residents of Western Visayas are encouraged to switch off non-essential lights for one hour to show their solidarity to the Earth Hour celebration on Saturday starting at 8:30 p.m. "By joining the Earth Hour, your simple act of switching off lights and other appliances is an essential part of a collective effort to save Mother Earth," said Regional Director Livino Duran of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Western Visayas in a statement released Friday through the Regional Strategic Communication Initiatives Group (RSCIG). He said that everyone has experienced hardships for the past two years due to the health pandemic and series of environmental crises. "For us to start a positive change, we need to switch off our inaction and speak up for nature," he added. The environmental campaign that started in Sydney, Australia in 2007 was aimed at raising awareness about climate change and energy saving. This year, the theme will be "Shape of Future", which according to Duran is a critical year for everyone and the planet as they move forward in pursuit of change and progress. "It is up to us to #ShapeOurFuture by bringing attention to the critical issues our planet is facing today," he said. (PNA) }