Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No, 4802

Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE ERIC L. OLIVAREZ

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Earth Hour is a worldwide campaign for our home planet organized by
the World Wide Fund for Nature. The event is held worldwide annually
encouraging individuals, communities, households and businesses to turn off
their non-essential lights for one hour, usually from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. on the
last Saturday of March to signify commitment to the planet and the
preservation thereof,

The Philippines is one of the many countries that participated in such
movement. We have successfully encouraged and engaged several
establishments and households in our own country to join in this good cause,
along with more than 96 countries on 6 continents.

Recently, the Philippine Electricity Market Corp. noted that power
consumption dropped by about 78.63 megawatts in Metro Manila, and up to
102.2 megawatts on Luzon. The maximum demand drop of around 39 MW was
experienced at 8:14 p.m. in Metro Manila and of around 116 MW at 8:34 p.m.
in the Luzon grid.

The governments of Quezon City, Manila, Pasay, Parafiaque, Caloocan
and Makati, as well as nongovernment organizations and organizations and
private businesses also took part in the activity.

‘The foregoing statistics was impressive enough with only six cities in the
National Capital Region participating in the Earth Hour. Imagine the overall
drop in power consumption when each and every city in our country does its
part to save the planet Earth?


The Earth Hour does not only raise awareness to the prevailing global
environmental problems we are facing. It actually has an actual impact in that
it saves the planet from too much carbon dioxide emission that causes
pollution and contributes to the erratic global warming and climate change we
are experiencing now.

Through this bill, the annual Earth Hour movement shall be
institutionalized and it shall mandate every city in the Philippines to
participate and turn their lights off for an hour every last Saturday of the
month of March. Once this bill is passed, our power consumption will drop
exponentially lower than our current record and this will significantly
contribute to the saving of our environment and ultimately, the preservation of
our planet. As the saying goes, “Small steps can lead to big changes.”

It is for this reason that the approval of this bill is being sought.

eam ¢. oN,

ERIC L. OLIVAREZ


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No, 4302

Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE ERIC L. OLIVAREZ

AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING EARTH HOUR

SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as “The Earth Hour
Act’.

SECTION 2. Institutionalization. It is hereby mandated that Earth
Hour be observed by all private individuals, establishments, households,
communities and businesses in the entire country by turning off the lights for
an hour from 8:00 to 9:00 pm every last Saturday of the month of March.

SECTION 3. Exceptions. Street lights and other public facilities and
equipment operated for public interest, welfare, safety and security, and
purpose need not comply with the Earth Hour movement if doing so would
impair the vital operations of said public institution or facility and would
prejudice the safety, security and welfare of the general public.

SECTION 4. Safety Measures. The private individuals, establishments,
households, communities and businesses participating in the earth hour may
use battery charged lights, flash lights or lamps that uses minimum or no
electricity during Earth Hour for safety measures.

SECTION 5. Information Campaign. - The Department of Environment
and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Interior and Local


Governments (DILG) and all Local Government Units shall conduct a massive
public information campaign at least 30 days prior to the observance of Earth
Hour.

SECTION 6, Repealing Clause. ~ All laws, presidential decrees, letters
of instructions, executive orders, rules and regulations insofar as they are
inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed or amended as the case may be.

SECTION 7. Separability Clause, - In the event that any provision of
this Act or any portion thereof is declared unconstitutional by a competent
court, the other provisions shall not be affected thereby and shall remain valid
and enforceable,

SECTION 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect after its
complete publication in at least three (3) newspapers of general circulation.

APPROVED.