Government underscores......from page 7
(PST), which is always punctual in consideration of the interest of others. “Bawat buwan, bawat linggo, bawat oras, bawat minuto, bawat saglit ay mahalaga…. Kaya dapat po ay nasa oras tayo palagi… dapat alalahanin natin yung ‘Juan time, the New Filipino Time’ ang magiging Philippine Standard Time at ito ay oras ng pagbabago,” Coloma said. He also cited the government’s all out efforts to effect reforms in the country within President Aquino’s six year term of office. He encouraged the people to let go of the habit of being late. “Sa akin pong palagay ang pinakamahalagang oras ngayon na dapat nating isa-isip, isa-puso at isa-diwa ay ito: ngayon po ay oras ng pagbabago… kailangan po na magba-
go ang ating pananaw hinggil sa oras. Kaya po pinaaalala ko sa aking sarili, labin-limang buwan na po ang lumipas, limampu’t pitong buwan na lamang ang nalalabi sa pamahalaan ni Pangulong Noynoy Aquino para tuparin ang mga pangako sa Bayang Pilipinas, apat na taon na lamang at siyam na buwan ang nalalabi,” Coloma said. Also present during the event were other government officials led by Vice President Jejomar Binay. Spearheaded by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in cooperation with several partners in the government and the private sector, the event aims to sync all time pieces in the country’s more than 7,100 islands to promote the nationwide use of PST, the new Philippine Standard Time.
The campaign theme “Juan Time” comes from a word play on “One Time” – with “Juan” referring to the common name for Filipinos. DOST Secretary Mario Montejo highlighted the importance of time as a resource but often overlooked. He said that “Juan Time” also reminds people that keeping to the PST avoid the difficulties of having confusing, unsynchronized time. Established decades ago, the PST is set by the DOST’s Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the country’s official timekeeper since 1978 as mandated by Section 6 of Batas Pambansa Blg. 8. The Philippine Standard Time is set through DOST-PA9
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Saturday, October 1, 2011