ANGELES CITY — Opposition Councilor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. has urged his constituents, including the village chiefs, to join the observation of the 2017 Earth Hour on March 25.
“Sa taon pong ito, sana po ay pangunahan ng ating masipag na barangay chairmen ang ating Earth Hour,” Lazatin said.
The annual world-wide environmental event is organized by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). People from homes and establishments are invited to turn non-essential lights off for one hour to save energy.
It is an initiative bringing awareness to global warming and environment conservation.
“Inaanyayahan ko po kayo na sama-sama po tayong makiisa sa Earth Hour sa pamamagitan ng pagpatay ng at ing mga ilaw sa loob ng isang oras, mula 8:30 hanggang 9:30 ng gabi,” Lazatin said.
Lazatin, who is also the president of the family-owned feed mill company – Biotop Philippines Agriculture Co. Inc., issued a memo last March 20, directing the two-hectare feed mill plant to participate in the one hour Earth Hour.
According to Lazatin, there is a common misconception that the Earth Hour is merely a “lights off” project and does not really impact the environment.
He added that the event advocates for greater collective consciousness on taking care of the environment.
“Ang Earth Hour ang nagpapakita na kahit ang maliliit na efforts ay nagkakaroon ng malaking epekto kung maraming tao ang makikiisa dito,” Lazatin said.
Lazatin added that since that this is also the proper time to promote the use of renewable energy.
Lazatin added that he is exploring the possibility of encouraging big business establishments to consider putting up solar panels to decrease carbon footprint and help the planet.
"We can also encourage households especially individuals who can afford to consider this cost-efficient energy harnessed by the sun," Lazatin said.
Lazatin said he is also supporting Republic Act No. 9513 or the Renewable Energy Act, which was authored by his father, former Pampanga First District Representative Carmelo "Tarzan" Lazatin in 2008.
Under the law, the State is mandated to accelerate exploration and development of renewable energy resources to achieve energy self-reliance; increase utilization of renewable energy by institutionalizing the development of national and local capabilities; encourage the development and utilization of renewable energy resources as tools to effectively prevent or reduce harmful emissions; and establish necessary infrastructure and mechanisms to carry out the stipulated mandates in the Act.
Renewable energy resources that could be alternatively utilized under RA 9513 are solar, wind, hydro, biomass, geothermal and ocean energy.
"Climate change is everybody's concern. We must act now," Lazatin said.
Lazatin, who is now on his second term, is one of the principal authors of Ordinance 364 or the “Plastic Bag and Styrofoam Ordinance of Angeles City” which seeks to protect and advance the rights of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology by minimizing the proliferation of plastic waste through regulation of the use of plastic bags and prohibition of the sell and use of styrofoam.