By Brian Jules Campued
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) urged Filipinos, particularly the youth, to practice responsible time management in conjunction with the promotion of the National Time Consciousness Week (NTCW) from Jan. 1 to 7.
The NTCW is observed every first week of the year.
DOST said there is a “critical need for a cultural shift” in terms of time consciousness, and stressed the importance of punctuality and “respect for each other’s time”.
“By cultivating an understanding of the essence of time, early on, the department believes that young Filipinos can harness this knowledge as a powerful tool in shaping their personal and professional trajectories,” the DOST said in a statement.
This year’s theme “G na G! Oras Pinas para sa Bagong Pilipinas” aims to synchronize all timepieces across the nation as mandated by Republic Act No. 10535 or The Philippine Standard Time (PhST) Act of 2013.
The law requires all government agencies and media companies to adhere to and display the PhST on their official time devices based on the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration’s (PAGASA) rubidium atomic clock.
PAGASA is designated as the official timekeeper in the country.
Accordingly, the rubidium clock, as well as the cesium clock, are the two most widely used atomic clocks in the world which helps synchronize time with the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).
“Beyond the mere ticking of the clock, the department envisions a broader impact on the fabric of society, recognizing that the habit of being on time is a cornerstone in all aspects of businesses and activities,” DOST added. –cf
