Mindanaotoday.com | DENR-10: NorMin is in ‘climate crisis’
By: Uriel Quilinguing
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – “LET us all be ally against climate crisis, switch off your lights – for the future of our planet, and us,” an official of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Northern Mindanao said two days before this year’s Earth Hour on Saturday, March 25.
Henry A. Adornado, DENR-10 regional executive director, in a social media card, encouraged everyone to join in the global campaign to turn off non-essential electric lights for an hour, 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm, as a symbolic commitment to planet Earth.
Adornado described the global campaign of voluntary switching off of electricity to cut down carbon dioxide emissions as “a reminder to give global spotlight on nature loss and climate change” and a call to sustain collective actions to mitigate devastating effects.
Climate crisis is being used to show a greater sense of emergency and urgency about climate change – that it isn’t just changing, but it’s causing a crisis and, if humans don’t do something, the consequences may be catastrophic.
Last year, the country saved about 65.32 megawatts of power when non-essential lights were turned off during the March 26 Earth Hour observance nationwide, according to the Department of Energy.
Engr. Erick George Dy, DOE Mindanao senior research specialist, said the Mindanao grid saved about 15.3 megawatt of electricity due to the Earth Hour last year – higher than Visayas area with 14.67 megawatts.
Dy said about 68% of power supply in Mindanao is fossil-based (coal and oil) while the remaining 32% comes from renewable energy such as hydroelectric (25%), geothermal (2,5%), solar (1.9%), and biomass (1.7%).
The DOE, he said, expects high demand for electricity during summer, from the time the weather agency declares dry season has begun. This year, it officially started Monday, March 20.
Dy said the DOE has always been advocating for energy efficiency and conservation practices to reduce the pressure on demand for more power supply, thus encouraging households to install solar panels.
Meanwhile, Bernadette May Flores, SM CDO Uptown mall manager, on Sunday said they expect last-minute details on Earth Hour activities from top management, as in the past.
In simple rites, they voluntarily switched off non-essential lights for an hour last year. (MT)
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