VILLAR URGES FILIPINOS TO SUPPORT EARTH HOUR

Senator Manny Villar encourages all Filipinos to support the observance of the Earth Hour on Saturday, March 28, 2009. The Earth Hour is a global call to action to every individual, business, and community to stand up for the environment in which citizens across the globe will turn off their lights for one hour, at 8:30 p.m up to 9:30 p.m., Philippine time.

Villar, also Nacionalista Party President, made the call as he filed Senate Resolution 950 on the implementation of the country's environmental laws, with the end in view of reviewing the policies and addressing gaps to ensure a healthy environment for all Filipinos.

"Despite the surfeit of ecological laws, the Philippine environment remains to be in a critical state. Soil fertility has decreased while pollution has increased. Fisheries have become increasingly less productive while flooding and landslides occur annually due to erosion from deforestation," Villar said

The Philippines has one of the most comprehensive set of laws on the protection of the environment. At present, the Philippines have 42 environmental laws in the fight against environmental violators. It includes such landmark laws as the Clean Air Act (Republic Act 8749), Clean Water Act (RA 9275), Solid Waste Management Act (RA 9003), Toxic, Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Management (RA 6969).

Villar added, "We must take a stand now to protect the environment, beginning with the Earth Hour. It is everyone's responsibility to one another and to the future generations to see that the Philippine environment is preserved and protected."

Last year, the Philippines ranked 9th in terms of sign-ups or participation in the Earth Hour observance. The Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia and among its international advocates are Nobel Peace laureate Archbishop Desmund Tutu and actress Cate Blanchett. In the Philippines, the effort is being led by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-Philippines), the SWITCH Movement and the Green Army.