Juan Time, PH Standard Time: ‘Pinoy Ako, On-Time Ako!’

(MANILA,PHILIPPINES)  TIME is the intangible important resource in our life that we cannot save and yet neglected by many of us.  With the heavy traffic in Metro Manila, our own experience can say that we really have to allocate travel and preparation time to meet our appointments here in the Philippines.

In the past, we also heard and seen in TV networks and radio stations of some discrepancies in announcing the time.

As we welcome the year 2014, we are enjoined to follow the Philippine Standard Time law led by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Mario G. Montejo in harmonizing our watches toward Juan Time.

“We urge Filipinos to synchronize their watches with PhST in welcoming New Year’s Day,” said DOST Secretary Mario G. Montejo.

The Republic Act 10535 or the Philippine Standard Time Law otherwise known as the "Philippine Standard Time Act of 2013" was signed by the President Benigno Aquino III and required all official sources and broadcasting organizations throughout the country to synchronize time devices to be displayed in key public places PhST as given by the DOST’s Philippine Atmosperic, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration also known as PAGASA, as the country’s official timekeeper.

This law also declares the first week of every year as National Time Consciousness Week and the newly published Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) this is ready to unveil on New Year’s Day, January 1, 2014 with the theme “Juan Time: PinoyAko, On-Time Ako!” 

Montejo continued: “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.”

In the IRR we quote the Section 3b of Guiding Principles: "Time is vital component of our social, legal, political, religious, military and economic activities. By synchronizing the official watches and clocks in the country, Filipinos can sing the national anthem at the same time, welcome the new year in unison, blend time sensitive chemical mixtures like medicines and food ingredients and synchronize security locks and other devices,open government services ast the appropriate hours..."
 
The 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. 

The law also states that the owners of private television and radio stations who shall fail to calibrate and synchronize their time devices with the PST during their broadcasts shall be penalized with a fine ranging from P30,000 to P50,000 and in case of second offense, revocation and cancellation of their franchises to operate.

In a press statement, Ramon Isberto, head for Public Affairs of Smart Communications said: "Smart is pleased to be an active partner of Juan Time Philippine Standard Time Campaign of DOST. The theme PinoyAko, 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."

While Globe Telecom Corporate Communications Head Yoly Crisanto said:"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."

As we bid goodbye tonight to 2013, let us make a commitment to sync with the government’s campaign Juan Time.

We can do our share- bloggers and media with this Philippine Standard Time (PhST) via: http://bit.ly/SyncPhST

Their Facebook account is https://www.facebook.com/PhilippineStandardTime and twitter at @PhST_DOST.

Happy New Year! Be productive and efficient in Juan Time! 

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Image courtesy of:

Hermes watch

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