BAGUIO CITY — Aside from showing support for environmental sustainability, Baguio City featured the rich culture of Cordillera in its fourth year of participating in the Earth Hour on Saturday.

The celebration kicked off with a Dance of the Gongs parade which started from the post office and ended at the City Hall.

Reynaldo Digamo, head of the Environmental Management Bureau in Cordillera, explained how the shutting of non-essential lights not only helps conserve energy, but also saves the environment.

“Hindi po itong mga ilaw natin ang nag-eemmit ng carbon dioxide, ito 'yung mga planta na nag-gegenerate po ng power. So, kung ma-lessen po natin 'yung consumption po natin even just for an hour, that would be a big count as far as the cut in the carbon emission is concerned.” said Digamo.

At exactly 8:30 p.m., the City Hall lights were switched off for an hour.

City Environment and Parks Management Office head Cordelia Lacsamana said more than 200 individuals joined the event this year -- an improvement from the previous years, particularly its launching in 2013 when no more than 50 individuals participated.

“Of course, happy tayo na a lot of our residents did participate sa Earth Hour for 2017. Malaking bagay 'yung kanilang participation na i-disseminate natin sa ating mga kapitbahay, mga kaibigan, the importance to fight global warming, climate change in the global village,” said Mayor Mauricio Domogan.

Baguio hopes that more locals would join its upcoming celebration of Earth Day on April 22.