[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_heading heading=’ URBAN FARMER ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY JULIO P. YAP JR.
[/av_heading]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
THE Department of Science and Technology (DOST) together with the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) recently led the nationwide observance of the National Time Consciousness Week (NTCW).
During the activity, the DOST enjoined the Filipinos to synchronize their watches with the official Philippine Standard Time (PhST) provided by PAGASA.
The initiative aims to create a culture of discipline among Filipinos by allowing a shift from the so-called āFilipino Timeā attitude to one that is characterized by punctuality to show respect to the value of time and to other people.
The DOST says that time is a resource that is very important but often overlooked.
Aside from its social and economic value, time is something that can unite the Filipinos, it added.
To promote the use of the PhST and help achieve this culture of punctuality by synching watches, clocks, and even the bundy clocks in offices, DOSTās campaign called āJuan Timeā was launched way back in January 2014.
The activity is in accordance with Republic Act (RA) 10535 or the Philippine Standard Time Act of 2013, which requires all nationaland local government offices, as well as television broadcasting companies to display PhST in their time sources.
Signed into law in May 2013, RA 10535 declared the first week of every year as National Time Consciousness Week.
As a kick-off activity for the first-ever observance of the NTCW in 2015, the DOST led all government offices in the country in a simultaneous holding of their first flag ceremony for the year at exactly 8 a.m., Philippine Standard Time, on Jan. 6, 2015.
Earlier, the cities of Candon in Ilocos Sur and Laoag in Ilocos Norte officially switched on their time pieces conspicuously mounted in the center of their respective cities.
The timepieces were put in sync with the PhST which is managed and maintained by PAGASA under the DOST.
The launching, organized by Region-1 office of the DOST, was within the recent celebration of the Regional Science and Technology Week in various parts of the region with the main celebration held in Candon City.
According to DOST Region 1 Director Dr. Armand Q. Ganal, it is a continuing information campaign about the value of time and the need to respect the time of others in order that the people may realize the importance of synchronized time.
For her part, DOST Undersecretary Brenda Nazareth L. Manzano said, āTime is more valuable than money for we are all only allotted a certain amount of time in our lives. And so, we need to make sure that we use it wisely.ā
PhST is an advocacy of the DOST which aims to synchronize the time in the whole archipelago and likewise to change the notorious āFilipino Timeā of being late.
The law says that all government offices and media networks are required to use the PhST as a basis to set their time pieces.
The law also sets penalties for institutions that do not comply with the requirements of the PhST.Ā (jaypeeyap@ymail.com/PN)
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
