Protect homes, future: DENR urges Filipinos to unplug, switch off for Earth Hour 2026
By Jel Santos
DENR Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna (PHOTO: DENR FACEBOOK PAGE)
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Saturday, March 28, urged Filipinos to switch off lights and unplug unnecessary devices during Earth Hour 2026 to help protect homes and the future.
“[T]he government cannot do this alone. This Earth Hour, we ask every Filipino to take one simple step: switch off the lights and unplug what is not needed,” DENR Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna said.
He said collective action, even for just an hour, can ease pressure on energy use and the environment.
“One hour may seem small but together, it means less strain on energy, less pressure on our environment, and a step toward protecting our homes and our future,” he said.
Also, the DENR chief noted that environmental issues are now closely felt in daily life, as extreme heat, worsening flooding, and rising electricity costs affect Filipino households.
“I know that for many of us, what we think about every day is work, expenses, and our families. But when heat intensifies, when flooding gets worse, and when electricity costs rise, we feel that the environment is part of our daily lives,” he said.
Marking its 20th year on March 28, the World Wide Fund for Nature-Philippines (WWF-PH) called on Filipinos to turn Earth Hour into sustained daily action beyond the annual lights switch-off.
WWF-PH said the campaign, themed “Switch on Habits for Earth,” underscores that meaningful environmental impact comes from consistent habits, not just a one-hour gesture.
Lawyer Angela Consuelo Ibay, the national director for Earth Hour Philippines, said the initiative has, for 20 years, highlighted how one hour can bring people together for the planet.