DAVAO CITY — Mindanao’s major cities participated actively in observing Earth Hour on Saturday night.

In Davao City, about 2,000 representatives from government agencies and civil society gathered at the SM City Davao for a power switch-off ceremony.

Jason C. Magnaye, investment promotions head, asked the public to help Mother Earth by turning off lights and not use electricity for at least an hour.

In a briefing two weeks before the event, Gregg Yan of World Wildlife-Philippines took note of the city’s contribution in making the country a major performer in the annual event since 2008.

In Mati City, Davao Oriental, Mayor Michelle Denise N. Rabat also asked residents to switch off electricity from 8:30-9:30 p.m. The city government also released sky lanterns before the actual switch off to symbolize the campaign to conserve power and protect the environment.

Cagayan de Oro City also joined the observance through a multi-sectoral event held at the SM City Cagayan de Oro. Divisoria, the city’s old commercial center, was in almost total darkness, even with the weekend night cafe in operation.

In other parts of the city, especially in residential areas, the power switch off was not observed, however.

Camp Phillips in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon was in total darkness on Saturday night as leaders extended the one-hour campaign to three hours. The observance of Earth Hour in Northern Mindanao was also promoted by the regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council by requesting government agencies to spearhead community activities in line with the annual observance.

In South Cotabato, Earth Hour celebration included symposiums and workshops held from morning until the actual switching off of lights in the evening. City environment officer Augustus L. Bretana said a team of mountain bikers led a crowd of 500 people who marched 3.5 kilometers from Gaisano Koronadal to the old city hall site where a candle-lighting and lantern-releasing ceremony culminated the day’s activities.