This Saturday, 22 March, marks an important event for our planet — Earth Hour 2025. Since 2011, the Climate Change Commission (CCC) has joined this global movement. After becoming part of CCC in 2022, I actively support and personally take part in this annual initiative.

Earth Hour has become much more than a symbolic act of turning the lights off for 60 minutes. This year, we invite you to participate, not only by switching off the lights but by engaging in global conversation on the most pressing issues of our time.

At the heart of this year’s Earth Hour is water security. Water is fundamental to human survival and a basic human right. It is also vital to the Philippine economy, particularly in major industries such as agriculture, tourism, and semiconductors. According to the World Bank, 42 percent of the country’s jobs are in sectors that use water intensively.

Despite being surrounded by water, the Philippines faces profound challenges. Water stress levels in the country are now twice the global average. In 2015, there were 12.4 million Filipinos who lacked basic access to drinking water, while 26 million had no access to basic sanitation. In 2022, the Department of Health estimated that out of 25.5 million households, 11.26 percent or 2.87 million still had no access to basic water supply while 16.36 percent or 4.17 million households had no basic sanitation facilities.

These challenges go beyond access to clean and safe water. They also include other risks posed by too much or too little of it.

Our country experiences around 20 typhoons annually, with approximately eight of such making landfall. Stronger typhoons and floods damage water infrastructures, including irrigation systems. Meanwhile, changing rainfall patterns reduce river flows and cause water shortages, as groundwater is usually replenished when rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year.

On the other hand, prolonged or extreme dry seasons such as those caused by El Niño limit water absorption into the ground and cause more water lost to evaporation, leading to longer and more severe droughts.

These climate conditions result in growing struggle and competition for water resources among households, industries and agriculture.

Recognizing the urgency of these challenges, the Philippine government has prioritized water security in the Philippine Development Plan (2023 to 2028). The plan outlines strategies aimed at strengthening water security, ecological integrity and resilience to hazards by improving water governance through integrated water resource management.

Under the leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the government steps up efforts to secure water for all, allocating P3.5 billion from the 2025 national budget to ensure that safe, affordable water reaches every Filipino household.

The National Adaptation Plan (NAP) identifies water resources as one of the eight key sectors prioritized for climate adaptation. The theme for the water sector is to “Safeguard Water Security: Secure and Sanitary Water for All,” highlighting three priority adaptation outcomes.

The first focuses on developing inclusive and resilient water and sanitation infrastructure. This entails updating building codes, enhancing water infrastructure standards and introducing early warning systems to decrease potential water shortages or contamination. Water infrastructures, such as dams, reservoirs and sanitation facilities, must be retrofitted and upgraded to withstand the changing climate.

The second outcome focuses on protecting water supply, quality and services from the growing unpredictability of weather patterns. With climate change already disrupting rainfall patterns and water availability, there is an urgent need to diversify water sources and promote rainwater harvesting and wastewater treatment initiatives. The NAP highlights the necessity for government and private sector partnerships to ramp up investments in alternative water supply infrastructure, particularly in remote and upland areas where water access remains a challenge.

The third key outcome emphasizes the protection and proper management of watersheds and surrounding ecosystems to ensure long-term water security. Deforestation, improper land use, and urbanization continue to weaken these natural systems. The NAP calls for comprehensive watershed management plans that account for climate risks, supported by updated regulations to safeguard these critical ecosystems.

Local government units (LGUs) play an important role in the effective implementation of these adaptation strategies. Programs such as the installation of rainwater harvesting systems, enhanced sewerage systems, and the comprehensive management of river basins must align with LGUs’ development plans to strengthen community resilience.

However, the problem of water security needs more than just national government interventions and localized efforts — it calls for a collective approach that spans borders. To build lasting resilience, financing for water infrastructure projects must be prioritized. This includes tapping into the private sector and securing international funding.

This Saturday, I encourage you to join millions around the world in switching your lights off for Earth Hour. But let’s not stop there.

The World Wide Fund also invites us to “Give an Hour for Earth” by dedicating an hour to do something positive for the planet. Whether it’s reducing water consumption, planting trees or advocating for sustainable practices, every action counts. You can log your contributions on the Hour Bank via the Earth Hour website and be part of a global movement dedicated to securing the future of the planet.

Yet, Earth Hour is just the beginning — concrete gains and progress go beyond 60 minutes. The real impact comes in the hours, days and years we commit to protecting our planet. Let’s use this event not only to reflect but also to call for and take long-term, sustained action: conserve water, support climate policies and initiatives and raise awareness.