The Philippine Online Chronicles

No more Filipino time—at least an attempt at eradicating the old connotation of Filipino time, as the House of Representatives approved on Monday a bill that aims to synchronize the official watches and clocks in the Philippines.

Before adjourning last Friday, Congress passed House Bill 6905 or the Philippine Standard Time (PST) bill on its third and final reading and submitted it to the Senate for plenary action.

The main author of the merged bill, Valenzuela Rep. Magtanggol Gunigundo, said the bill would mandate the adoption of PST in all national and local government offices to encourage productivity and efficient use of time. The time shall be determined and provided by the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

“With a set PST, we can welcome a new year in unison, blend time sensitive chemical mixtures like medicine and food ingredients and synchronize security locks and other devices. By synchronizing the official watches and clocks in the entire archipelago, all Filipinos can sing the national anthem at the same time,” Gunigundo said as quoted by the Inquirer.net.

The bill is also set to provide funds for the installation, operation, and maintenance of the synchronized time devices in key public areas.

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) was tapped to coordinate with PAGASA's time unit in monitoring, maintaining, and disseminating PST in the country. The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) will oversee the participation of government as well as private radio and television stations, which were also required to ensure that even the remotest area in the country will be part of the synchronization. Along with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the NTC will also impose sanctions for non-compliance.

The Tribune also reported the bill's proposed institutionalization of a “National Time Consciousness Week” to be observed every first week of the year.