Palace on Earth Hour: Protect our water resources

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is set for the annual ritual of switching off lights known as Earth Hour tonight, from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., with organizers raising awareness this year about protecting water sources.

Angela Consuelo Ibay, national director for Earth Hour at the World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines (WWF-Philippines), explained that the group selected this theme because the date of the annual event coincides with today’s celebration of World Water Day.

“We want to tell people that the issue with water is not only about the cleanliness of drinking water but also about its source,” Ibay told state-run Radyo Pilipinas in a mix of English and Filipino on Thursday. “If we face an inadequate supply, it will be challenging for all of us.”

“Many people say it always rains in the Philippines, yet we encounter problems when the dry season arrives,” she pointed out.

“One reason for this is the marginalization of our watersheds due to poor management,” Ibay, a lawyer, added.

Despite having abundant water sources, the Philippines has been experiencing water stress since 2017, with the National Water Resources Board identifying 21 groundwater-stressed areas and 15 water-stressed river basins.

Urban consumption, tourism and climate change are drying up these areas, posing a challenge for 27 percent of the Filipino population.

The government think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies disclosed in a 2024 report that waterborne diseases continue to cause morbidity and hospitalization in impoverished areas, as socioeconomic conditions prevent them from accessing basic water and sanitation facilities.

“There is a critical need for targeted interventions, funding and policies that ensure universal access to water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, particularly among the poor,” the study, titled “The Last-Mile Challenge: Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in the Philippines” and conducted with the support of the United Nations Children’s Fund, stated.

“This may involve strategic investments in infrastructure, with a focus on regions and communities facing the most significant disparities,” it noted.

There will be no centralized program for Earth Hour this year to allow cities to conduct their own activities, according to Ibay. Last year, the WWF-Philippines staged a program at Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila.

WWF-Philippines executive director Katherine Custodio will attend Makati’s Earth Hour program at Ayala Triangle Gardens, while Ibay will participate in Quezon City’s activities at Robinsons Magnolia.

In Muntinlupa, the city government will host a switch-off event at Alabang Central Market.

Earth Hour started in Sydney, Australia, in 2007. Since then, more than 190 countries all over the world are each giving one hour to the planet.