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Also, the matters contained in the following were written in accordance with the law, rules, and jurisprudence prevailing at the time of writing and posting, and do not include any future developments on the subject matter under discussion.
AT A GLANCE
- The “National Time Consciousness Week” shall be institutionalized and celebrated every first week of the year.
- All national and local government offices, including all schools, public or private, shall conduct 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 imperative of synchronizing the official time.
- The Philippine Standard Time Act (PST) of 2013 mandates all national and local government offices to display the Philippine Standard Time (PST) on their official time devices in accordance with the time provided by the PAG-ASA using its network time protocol.
- All offices shall coordinate with PAG-ASA regarding the synchronization of their official timepieces and devices at least once a month. (R.A. No. 10535, otherwise known as The Philippine Standard Time (PST) Act of 2013)
Observance of the National Consciousness Week
The National Time Consciousness Week, celebrated every first week of January, aims to promote the Philippine Standard Time and instill among Filipinos the need to respect the time of others, in order that they may realize the imperative of synchronizing the official time.
As such the Philippine Standard Time (PST) shall be displayed in all national and local government offices.
The law says:
“Section 2. Display of the Philippine Standard Time. – All national and local government offices shall display the Philippine Standard Time (PST) on their official time devices, including bundy clocks, in accordance with the official time being provided by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) using its network time protocol. All of these offices shall coordinate, at least once a month, with the PAGASA to synchronize their official timepieces and devices.” (Section 2, R.A. No. 10535, otherwise known as The Philippine Standard Time (PST) Act of 2013)
Republic Act No. 10535 or The Philippine Standard Time (PST) Act of 2013 mandates all national and local government offices, including all schools to conduct an information campaign to promote the National Time Consciousness Week.
The law says:
“Section 8. Information Campaign. – All national and local government offices, including all schools, public or private, shall conduct 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 imperative of synchronizing the official time.
Section 9. Institutionalization of the “National Time Consciousness Week”. – The “National Time Consciousness Week” shall be institutionalized and celebrated every first week of the year.” (Sections 8 and 9, R.A. No. 10535, otherwise known as The Philippine Standard Time (PST) Act of 2013)
Likewise, the PST Act of 2013 states that:
“Section 3. Monitoring, Maintenance and Dissemination of the PST. – The PAGASA’s Time Service Unit, in coordination with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), shall be tasked to monitor, maintain and disseminate the PST throughout the country. The PAGASA shall operate and maintain a timekeeping system to perform these functions and shall endeavor to install and maintain sufficiently large and prominently displayed synchronized time devices in all their field stations and in key public places.
Section 6. Role of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC). – The NTC shall require the participation of all government and private television and radio stations in order to ensure the synchronization of timekeeping devices can be undertaken even in the most remote parts of the country.” (Sections 3 and 6, R.A. No. 10535, otherwise known as The Philippine Standard Time (PST) Act of 2013)
Penalty for non-compliance with the PST Act
The law says:
“Section 7. Violations. – The NTC shall have jurisdiction to enforce obedience to the provisions of this Act by writ of injunction or by other process, mandatory or otherwise, restraining further violations of this Act and enjoining obedience thereto.
Owners of private television and radio stations who shall fail to calibrate and synchronize their time devices with the PST during their broadcast shall, upon hearing and due proceedings, be penalized with a fine of not less than Thirty thousand pesos (P30,000.00) but not more than Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) and in case of second offense, revocation and cancellation of their franchises to operate.
The fine to be collected as penalty for the violation of this Act shall be deposited in the general fund of the National Treasury.” (Section 7, R.A. No. 10535, otherwise known as The Philippine Standard Time (PST) Act of 2013)
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