Welcome 2014 to the rhythm of one common beat.
The country’s network giants are set to synchronize their timepieces with the official Philippine Standard Time (PhST) in greeting the New Year after consultations with officials from the Department of Science and Technology led by Secretary Mario G. Montejo.
President Benigno Aquino III signed into law Republic Act 10535 or the Philippine Standard Time Act of 2013 requiring all national and local government offices as well as broadcasting organizations to display PhST as provided by the DOST’s Philippine Atmosperic, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration or PAGASA, the country’s official timekeeper.
The new law, with its recently-published Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), also provides for the observance of the National Time Consciousness Week, set to make its debut on New Year’s Day, January 1, 2014, with the theme “Juan Time: Pinoy Ako, On-Time Ako!”
“We urge Filipinos to synchronize their watches with PhST in welcoming New Year’s Day,” said DOST Secretary Mario G. Montejo.
“Our Juan Time campaign seeks to reverse the negative connotations of “Filipino Time” from tardiness to punctuality, discipline, and utmost regard for other people’s time. Lateness often leads to missed opportunities. What we want is for Filipinos to arrive on time as the new norm,”Montejo added.
For his part, DOST Assistant Secretary Raymund Liboro noted that the arrival of the New Year is the right moment for Filipinos to start following Philippine Standard Time. He added that the leading telecommunications service providers have already been synchronized with PhST.
"Smart is pleased to be an active partner of the ‘Juan Time’ Philippine Standard Time Campaign of DOST,” said Ramon Isberto, head for Public Affairs of Smart Communications. “The theme ‘Pinoy Ako, On Time Ako’ is very appropriate in the context of keeping our diverse country of more than 7,000 islands in step with the world. Smart is committed to do its part in making sure that its 50 million subscribers will benefit from this Philippine Standard Time campaign," he added.
According to Globe Telecom Corporate Communications Head Yoly Crisanto, "Globe actively supports the observance of the National Time Consciousness Week by activating various initiatives through the power of our modernized network and social media to reach out to all Filipinos, enjoining them to observe a common reckoning of time across the country. With the implementation of the Philippine Standard Time, we are one with our countrymen in starting 2014 on time and observing thereafter Filipino Time as being Juan Time, On Time."
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DOST Secretary Mario G. Montejo (second from right) unveils the official Philippine Standard Time (PhST) to highlight the signing of Republic Act 10535 or the Philippine Standard Time Act of 2013, together with its Implementing Rules and Regulations, and the observance of National Time Consciousness Week (NTCW) in ceremonies held in Quezon City. The digital clock in picture will be among those used for the upcoming New Year’s Eve countdown and the debut of the NTCW, to be bannered by the theme “Juan Time: Pinoy Ako, On-Time Ako!” Also in picture from left are PAGASA Acting Administrator Vicente Malano, PCOO Assistant Secretary Jess Q. Yu, DOST Assistant Secretary Raymund E. Liboro, and Rep. Magtanggol T. Gunigundo I of the 2nd District of Bulacan. (Photo by George Robert Valencia III, S&T Media Service, DOST-STII)
