IT’S a bad sign if you start the year being late to school, to work, or to your appointment. Punctuality is an important trait as it is one way of showing respect to others. Your time is not more valuable than theirs.
The Department of Science and Technology is observing National Time Consciousness Week from January 1 to 7, 2023.
The theme of this year’s observance is Oras Pinas: Tamang Oras Tungo sa Maunlad na Pilipinas, with the aim of promoting the culture of punctuality and respect for each other’s time.
“The wise use of time serves as key driver in building a progressive nation that aspires for inclusive growth and development,” it said.
In line with this, it is calling on Filipinos across the country to synchronize all their timepieces.
Official Philippine time
People like to joke about “Filipino time,” a reference to the Pinoys’ penchant for being late.
But there is a Philippine Standard Time (PST), which is the official time in the country and is determined by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.
It is kept according to the Universal Time Coordinated or UTC, which is the world’s official time.
Batas Pambansa 8 approved in 1978 tasks PAGASA to establish and maintain the national standard of time in the country.
Presidential Decree 1149 made PAGASA the official time service agency of the Philippines.
Republic Act 10535, or the Philippine Standard Time Act of 2013, requires all national and local government offices to display the PST on their official time devices, including bundy clocks.
These offices are required to coordinate at least once a month with PAGASA to synchronize their official timepieces and devices.
Who keeps track of the time?
PAGASA’s Time Service Unit is in charge of monitoring, maintaining, and disseminating the PST throughout the country, and is required to operate and maintain a timekeeping system.
PAGASA uses a rubidium atomic clock for timekeeping, which is very accurate. This clock has a receiver that receives timing signals from at least four orbiting satellites in the Global Positioning System within its range, according to the DOST.
This allows PAGASA’s clock to be synchronized to the UTC, it said.
TV and radio stations
All government and private television and radio stations are required to synchronize their timekeeping devices with the PST.
Owners of private television and radio stations that fail to calibrate and synchronize their devices with the PST during broadcast could face fines ranging from P30,000 to P50,000.
In case of a second offense, their franchise to operate could be revoked or cancelled.
RA 10535 also requires the observance of “National Time Consciousness Week” every first week of the year.
Why is the Philippine Standard Time important?
Synchronizing official watches and clocks means Filipinos can welcome the new year in unison, synchronize security locks, open government offices at the appropriate hours, run air, land, and sea transportation lines on time, and execute military undertakings with precision.
Meteorologists who study weather disturbances also need accurate timing to obtain data over wide geographical areas synchronously and automatically.
Having a culture of punctuality and practicing wise time management will also allow people to be more productive at home, at school, and at the workplace, according to the DOST.
