#Republic Act 10535

[timows-turf]

Of It's Showtime and of Our Traditional Media's Time Consciousness

Time is of the essence, they say.

[Requested by Albert Brian Gimao] THEY SAY, time is of the essence. However, in the past weeks, ABS-CBN’s It’s Showtime went into overtime as late as almost 4:00 p.m. and consequentially pushed the remainder of the day’s lineup later than usual after Wildflower finished airing. This case was beyond the two reasonable excuses why some programs start late or were ditched, such as a fast-pacing game…

[engl11ww]

Filipino Time as Normalized in Social and Professional Settings: An Effort for a More Comprehensive RA 10535

Abstract

Filipino time, a trait attributed to Filipinos being habitually late to various events and appointments, is a prevalent problem manifested by Filipinos. This trait can provide reinforcement to accept and normalize Filipino time in social and professional settings. This is evident from the account that former President Quirino was late to his own awarding of an honorary degree from Fordham University (Bernad, 2002), and many more accounts. Thus, a more comprehensive version of the existing solution of RA 10535 is proposed, which would combat the problem through awareness and prevention.

Statement of the Problem

Primary Source Published as an article in the fifth volume of the Budhi, a journal from the Ateneo de Manila University, Filipino Time, which is the habit of Filipinos to be purposefully or unintentionally tardy, is shown to be a prominent trait of Filipinos in numerous social occasions, and professional appointments by individuals in various hierarchies of the social strata. Two accounts noted by the author on phenomenon of Filipino time has shown it to be exemplified by former President Quirino in arriving exceedingly late to the awarding ceremony of his own honorary doctorate by Fordham University, and by the Marcoses’ being unhurried to occasions in which they preside in (Bernad, 2002). These instances thus promote “Filipino time” as normalized in social and professional settings.

Secondary Sources The problem of Filipino time has also been acknowledged by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) as a normalized culture of tardiness in professional settings that leads to loss in productivity. To re-instill the value of time within Filipinos, a campaign called “Juan Time”, implemented by the DOST, aims to shift the current culture by synchronizing all timekeeping devices in government offices and public spaces with respect to the official Philippine Standard Time (PST) (DOST, 2011). This is further concretized by its implementation as a law in Republic Act 10535 also known as “The Philippine Standard Time (PST) Act of 2013 (DOST, 2013) . (104 words)

Statement of the Solutions Existing Solution Showing the exact and official time in government offices and key public spaces (DOST, 2013)  to combat the prevalence of Filipino time through awareness. Institutions are required to synchronize all timekeeping devices of their offices with the Philippine Standard TIme (PST). This will ideally encourage individuals to be aware of the PST, and thus synchronize the PST with their own timekeeping devices. Furthermore, it allows them to be aware of the official time, and also the time used by other people of their correspondence. However, individuals themselves are not mandated to follow the PST, and there are no repercussions for individuals violating this.

Relatable Solution In addition, conducting studies on the prevalence of Filipino time and its impact on the productivity of individuals and organizations is another solution to combat the prevalence of Filipino time through facts and data. In a study published in “Understanding the Filipino Worker and Organization” of the Ateneo de Manila University Press, Emerald Ilac and Helen Salvosa (2017) found that it was the most prevalent counterproductive behavior in the workplace. Studies on the subject would ideally encourage organizations to realize the negative impact of Filipino time on productivity, therefore create policies to prevent this. However, it is up to the discretion of the institution on whether or not to implement these measure in the workplace. (218 words)

Execution of the Solution Context To effectively change a culture and habit such as Filipino time, a solution must start with studies about the problem, public awareness, and implemented legislation. Conducted and compiled research by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) on the subject will to be able to substantiate the prevalence of the problem and propose possible solutions to it. Public awareness and implementation is then accomplished by RA 10535, which is synchronizing all timekeeping devices in government institutions and key public spaces with the Philippine Standard Time (PST) (DOST, 2013). (88 words)

Step-by-step Process The Philippine Institute for Development Students (PIDS) can spearhead the endeavor to conduct and collect research about the prevalence of Filipino time in professional and social settings, its impact on productivity in the workplace, and propose solutions it. This can be done by allocating some of its budget of government funds to conduct its own research and incentivize other research institutions, as well as public and private universities to pursue these studies. Once it is deemed by the PIDS that there are enough published studies about Filipino time to form a prevailing consensus, it will conduct a comprehensive review of all the relevant studies on the subject. This review will highlight the major findings about the nature of Filipino time, its prevalence and impact in society, and feasible solutions proposed by the studies. To be able to effectively disseminate its findings to the public, it will be published in multiple journals and circulated in various media outlets. Implementation of the findings conducted by the PIDS can be incited by a revision of the existing Republic Act No. 10535. This law already requires timekeeping devices in government offices and key public spaces be synchronized with the Philippine Standard Time (PST) (DOST, 2013). A more comprehensive version of this law must also be made to accomodate and incorporate the findings of the PIDS from its endeavors that are proven to decrease the instances of Filipino time. This version must also be expanded to include private professional and educational institutions and within its scope of jurisdiction, provide harsher penalties to violators, and increase support for institutions that wish to penalize individuals those who violate this. The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) will be tasked to provide, maintain, and disseminate the PST throughout the government and private institutions, in key public areas, and media outlets within the country. In addition to this, the law also promotes the culture and awareness of the importance of time and time management. This is accomplished by celebrating “National Time Consciousness Week” during the first week of the year. National and local governments, as well as public and private schools, are also tasked to conduct an information campaign on the value of time. Both of these initiatives would encourage awareness of the value and importance of time, as well as the time of other individuals.

[worldnewsph]

DOST installs 10 PST digital clocks in CagVal

DOST installs 10 PST digital clocks in CagVal

DOST RD Sancho Mabborang explains the provisions of  Republic Act 10535 or the Act to Set the Philippine Standard Time over DPWE-Radyo Pilipinas. (Photo by PIA-2)

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan, Jan. 7 (PIA) – – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in the Cagayan Valley Region recently installed at least 10 Philippine Standard Time (PST) digital clocks in different Local Government Units…