The Port of Cagayan de Oro once again participated in the annual Earth Hour celebration on 28 March 2020. This year, the Ports of Benoni and Balingoan, and Oroport Cargohandling Services, Inc., the CDO Port’s cargo handling operator, also took part in the activity that ran from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm.
Non-essential lights around the ports and its buildings, including the Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) were turned off for an hour. Exemptions were those streetlights, lights in operational areas, and in office units that are open 24 hours to serve the port users such as the Assessment, Billing, and Collecting Unit (ABCU).
PMO employees also joined the Earth Hour by shutting down non-essential lights and electronic appliances in their respective homes. They happily shared their photo documentation of their participation.
The Earth Hour is a worldwide event participated by million people around the globe and by more than 150 countries and territories as a commitment to a healthy and sustainable planet. It began in Sydney, Australia in 2007. This year, as the world is currently facing health crisis due to COVID-19 pandemic, the Earth Hour global organizing team established a digital platform through “On-the-night” live streams and enjoined the people to participate in the event digitally. Now on its 14th year, and amidst the current pandemic, the said event still drew high participation around the world.