Lights Off, Big Signal: PH Cuts 145.43 MW During Earth Hour Push
Earth Hour 2026 — rewritten from GMA News Online.
The Philippines shaved 145.43 megawatts off its electricity use during Earth Hour 2026, according to the Department of Energy. The one-hour event was held on March 28 from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., and officials said the drop showed that even symbolic actions can add up when people join in nationwide.
The DOE said Luzon posted the biggest reduction at 75.25 MW, followed by the Visayas at 66.6 MW and Mindanao at 3.58 MW. The breakdown suggests the strongest participation came from the country’s biggest power-consuming areas, especially in Luzon and the Visayas.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. used the event to stress that energy use is not just a technical issue but a shared responsibility. In his message, he said Earth Hour should remind Filipinos that the way energy is consumed affects everyone and reflects the kind of future the country wants to build.
Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said the real point of Earth Hour is not just the one-hour lights-off moment, but the habit change behind it. She said the event proves Filipinos can make a meaningful dent in power demand when they act together, and that conservation should become part of daily life, hindi one-night stand lang.
The DOE is now urging households and workplaces to keep that same mindset beyond the annual campaign through more energy-efficient practices. Officials said steady conservation helps lower electricity bills while also supporting energy security, affordability, and environmental protection at a time when the country remains sensitive to supply pressures.
Source: GMA News Online
