The Constitution, Article II, Section 24 provides that:
SEC. 24. The State recognizes the vital role of communication and information in nation building.
As we head deeper into the Information Age it is imperative that our government maintain a cohesive working system bound together by a single time reference. Section 4 (c) of the Presidential Decree No. 78, as amended, designated the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) as the official time service agency of the Philippines. However such designation still failed to solve the problem of having multiple conversion and interpretation of time across our country, leading to inefficiencies in various services and processes. Though available, government offices still resort to different sources of time reference when observing their own schedules. In several occasions, difference in time had led to unnecessary friction brought about by disparate interpretation of the schedules and their observance.
A definite time reference such as the Philippines Standard Time (PST) would remove these inefficiencies brought about by the different interpretation of time, particularly among government offices. By enjoining all government offices to subscribe to the PST, all citizens would eventually follow suit and observe the same time reference in order to be able to avail of time-based government services.
This bill seeks to establish statutorily the PST, mandate PAGASA to disseminate this information and enjoin all government offices to observe PST. By doing so, we would be able to synchronize government functions by having a unified time reference system.
AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE STANDARD TIME TO BE OBSERVED IN ALL GOVERNMENT OFFICES
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
SENATE
S. No. l585
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
Section 1: Short Title
This Act shall be known as the “One Time Philippines Act of 2008.”
Section 2: Philippine Standard Time
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) shall be responsible for the establishment and maintenance of the Philippine Standard Time (PST).
Section 3: Dissemination
PAGASA shall provide for a system of disseminating the PST to all government offices on a regular basis.
Section 4: Use of PST
All government agencies and instrumentalities, and local government offices, government-owned corporations and local government units a~e enjoined to maintain and observe their schedules using the PST. Socio-civic groups, non-government organizations and the private sector are exhorted to observe PST.
Section 5: Appropriations
To carry out the provisions of this Act, such amount as hereby necessary is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National Treasury.
Section 6: Separability Clause
If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain valid and sUbsisting.
Section 7: Repealing Clause
Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or is inconsistent with the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly
Section 8: Effectivity Clause
This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
