MANILA - Welcome 2014 by synchronizing your timepieces with Philippine Standard Time (PhST), the Department of Science and Technology Secretary Mario Montejo is inviting Filipinos as the department partnered with telecoms giants in this endeavor.
“We urge Filipinos to synchronize their watches with PhST in welcoming New Year’s Day,” said Montejo.
The effort is in connection with 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 Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), the country’s official timekeeper.
The new law, together 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, 1 January 2014, with the theme “Juan Time: PinoyAko, On-Time Ako!”
“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 New Year is the right time for Filipinos to start following PhST. 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 ‘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," 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."
Join Juan Time. Synchronize your watch with the Philippine Standard Time (PhST) via: http://bit.ly/SyncPhST. Like Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhilippineStandardTime. Follow us on Twitter: @PhST_DOST.
source: interaksyon.com
