Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Constitution Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No._____ 
________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE EDWIN 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 8:30-9:30 pm on the last Saturday of 
March to signify commitment to the planet and its preservation. 
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 this good cause, along with more than 96 
countries in 6 continents. 
In fact, in March 2013, the Philippine Electricity Market Corp. noted that 
power consumption dropped by about 78.63 megawatts in Metro Manila, and up to 
102.2 megawatts in Luzon. The maximum demand drop of around 39 ME was 
experienced at 8:14 pm in Metro Manila and around 116 MW at 8:34 p.m. in the 
Luzon grid. (Source: Inquirer) 
The governments of Quezon City, Manila, Pasay, Parañaque, Caloocan, 
and Makati, as well as other non-government 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 plane from too much carbon dioxide emission that causes pollution and 
contributes to the erratic global warming and climate change we are experiencing 
January 26, 2023
5:24 pm
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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 and 
conservation of our electricity and other non-renewable resources, and ultimately, 
the preservation of our environment and 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. 
EDWIN L. OLIVAREZ 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Constitution Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No._____ 
________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE EDWIN L. OLIVAREZ 
AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING EARTH HOUR. 
SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as “the Earth Hour Act 
of 2023.” 
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 similar 
purposes 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, flashlights, 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 (DENRJ and the Department of Interior and Local 
Government (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 
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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