Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House BillNo. 4180

Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE ERIC L. OLIVAREZ

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Earth Hour is a worldwide campaign for our home planet
organized by the World Wildlife 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 participates 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 ninety-six (96) countries across six (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:
Philippine Daily Inquirer)

The governments of Quezon City, Manila, Pasay, Parafaque,
Caloocan, and Makati, as well as other non-government organizations
and private businesses also took part in the activity.

The foregoing statistics were 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 of the prevailing
global environmental problems we are facing. It 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


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.

ow
ERIC L. OLIVAREZ


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 4180

Introduced by: PRESENTATIVE ERIC L. OLIVAREZ
AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING EARTH HOUR

SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as “the Earth Hour Act
of 2025.”

SECTION 2. Institutionalization. It is hereby mandated that Earth Hour
be observed by all public offices, and 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. Streetlights, 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 (DENR) 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


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