Time is a vital component of our social, legal, political and economic activities. By synchronizing the official watches and clocks in the country, Filipinos can all sing the national anthem at the same time, welcome the new year in unison; blend time-sensitive chemical mixtures like medicines and food ingredients; synchronize security locks and other devices; run air, land and sea transportation lines; and to develop a culture of punctuality and practice wise spending of time to be more productive at home, school and the workplace.
The bill then proposes for a national official time-the Philippine Standard Time (PST) – in all of the country’s official sources; and provide for funds to install, operate and maintain synchronized time devices displayed in key public places. Likewise it aims to institutionalize the “National Time Consciousness Week.”
Early passage of this Bill is urged.
Table of Contents
- Short title
- Display of the Philippine Standard Time
- Monitoring, Maintenance and Dissemination of PST
- Procurement of Equipment for the Automatic Dissemination of Time
- General Appropriations
- Implementing Guidelines
- Participation of Media
- Violations
- Information Campaign
- Institutionalization of the “National Time Consciousness Week”
- Separability Clause
- Repealing Clause
- Effectivity
AN ACT TO SET THE PHILIPPINE STANDARD TIME (PST) IN ALL OFFICIAL SOURCES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, TO PROVIDE FUNDS FOR THE INSTALLATION, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF SYNCHRONIZED TIME DEVICES TO BE DISPLAYED IN KEY PUBLIC PLACES AND TO DECLARE THE FIRST WEEK OF EVERY YEAR AS NATIONAL TIME CONSCIOUSNESS WEEK
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
SENATE
S. B. NO. 2043
INTRODUCED BY HONORABLE EDGARDO J. ANGARA
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 Philippine Standard Time (PST) Act of 2009”
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 3: Monitoring, Maintenance and Dissemination of the PST
The P AGASA’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 this function 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 4: Procurement of Equipment for the Automatic Dissemination of Time
The amount of Sixty Million Pesos (P60,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated for the acquisition of six (6) units of equipment for automatic dissemination of time with the Global Positioning System (GPS). The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) shall be the procurement overseer of these equipment.
Section 5: General Appropriations
The amount necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be included in the appropriation of P AGASA under the DOST under the General Appropriations Act. Thereafter, such amount as may be necessary for the upgrading and/or maintenance of the timekeeping system shall be included in the annual budget of the DOST and PAGASA.
Section 6: Implementing Guidelines
The PAGASA, in coordination with DOST, NTC, DOTC, DILG, DND and DOH, shall promulgate the necessary guidelines for the effective implementation of the calibration and synchronization of the time-keeping devices within fifteen (15) days from the effectivity of this Act.
Section 7: Participation of Media
The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) shall require the participation of all government and private television and radio stations in order to ensure that such synchronization can be undertaken even in the most remote parts of the country.
Section 8: Violations
For any violation of the provisions of this Act, the Commissioner of the National Telecommunications Commission or the duly authorized representative may apply to the appropriate Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts or Municipal Circuit Trial Courts for the territorial jurisdiction in which such violation occurs for the enforcement of this Act; and such court shall have jurisdiction to enforce obedience thereto 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 shaH fail to calibrate and synchronize their time devices with PST during their broadcast shall upon conviction, 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 its franchise to operate.
Section 9: Information Campaign
All national and local government offices, including all schools, public or private, shall conduct a continuing information about the value of time and need for respect for the time of others, in order that the people may realize the imperative of synchronizing the official time.
Section 10: Institutionalization of the “National Time Consciousness Week”
The “National Time Consciousness Week” shall be institutionalized and celebrated every first week of the year.
Section 11: Separability Clause
If any provision or part of this Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall remain in full force and effect.
Section 12: Repealing Clause
An laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations, rules and regulations, and issuances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.
Section 13: Effectivity
This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.
