DepEd urges schools to use Philippine Standard Time

The Department of Education issued DepEd Order Number 86, series of 2011, “Synchronizing with the Philippine Standard Time,” directing all school officials nationwide to synchronize with the Philippine Standard Time (PST) so that all school-based activities are conducted simultaneously.

Secretary of Education Armin Luistro said this is an important move because it will add to work efficiency and better time management. “Time is a very precious resource which we tend to take for granted. If we are all guided by the Philippine standard time, then our work will be in sync and we can optimize use of time spent in school,” he explained.

To synchronize activities of DepEd to the school level, all offices are directed to set all clocks inside offices and school properties including time recording devices to match the PST established by the Department of Science and Technology through the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

The time in hours, minutes, and seconds is displayed in PAGASA’s website www.pagasa.dost,gov.ph.

Luistro emphasized in the memo that all class schedules, meetings, activities and events should be based on the PST and that these schedules must start and end on time.

The DepEd family is one with the nation in changing the concept of “Filipino time” to being “on time” said Luistro.

The PAGASA is mandated by Section 6 of Batas Pambansa Blg. 8 to be the country’s official timekeeper. The PST is set using the DOST-PAGASA’s timing system consisting of a rubidium atomic clock, Global Positioning System receiver, time interval counter, distribution amplifier, and a computer.