A Law to Stop Filipinos from Being Late
- Written by Madonna T. Virola
- Tues,18 June 2013 | 12:00
Filipinos
joke that they have their own sense of time.....in related it means they are
often late.
Albert Cabungal is in charge of workers’ attendance at the provincial government of Oriental Mindoro.
”I think the reason why people think it’s OK for them to be late is because in the workplace, it’s accepted, to be late. Although there is the deduction (in pay), people, especially the office heads, they tolerate their subordinates being late.“
He says the office is using fingerprint scanner where employers have to log in to and out from work... as a way to stop them from being late. But this hasn’t been very successful...
”There are loopholes, or ways to get away with the system,” he explains. “Like coming in at 7:30 then logging in then going home... then coming in at a much later time. Actually, there’s no perfect system, there’s always cracks in the system.”
Earlier this month, a new law was passed to try and strop Filipinos from being late.
Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte announced the new law.
”Republic Act 10535 signed on May 15 by the President. This now sets the Philippines Standard Time. All government offices, agencies, instruments, bureaus shall now coordinate with the PAG-ASA once a month to synchronize official time pieces and devices.”
According to the law, the state weather bureau will determine Philippines Standard Time as a single time reference for all government agencies. This means all government offices open and close at the same time to provide more efficient services for public.
The reference time will also be available online through its website.
The law also mandates the National Telecommunications Commission to require all TV and radio stations to use the standard time. Otherwise, their franchise can be revoked or cancelled... along with a fine of up to 1,000 US dollars.
As a local radio program director Christian Tobillo welcomes the new law.
“As a broadcaster, I favour the Philippines Standard Time because we’ll have a common and correct time to give because people are tuning in to us. If the PST will be strictly followed, it can reduce tardiness although punctuality and discipline still depends on a person.”
And to grow a new habit of being punctual, public schools and government offices will hold campaigns on the value of time. The government will also provide a public display of standard-time devices and declare the first week of every year is also declared as National Time Consciousness Week.
But it’s a hard habit to break...
After the law was introduced earlier this month, nothing has changed in the workers’ attendance habit says Albert Cabungal.
“I don’t know why there is so little information dissemination when the law was passed. People are not informed for the reason why they created such a law.... what’s the purpose of having this PST.”
Don Zian Encarnacion, a Professor of political science at a local college in Calapan says it needs more than new clocks to break the habit.
“The tardiness itself is not merely about time, but more it’s more of culture,” he explains.
“Even if we try to adopt or change the time, the hours, the days, the minutes, if the mindset of Filipinos is I will always be late, it won’t do anything. Basically, we need to change the culture itself of the Philippines.“
And to do this, Albert Cabungcal says everyone must start from oneself.
“To set the example, you must be the example. For change to happen, the person should be the change that he wants to be or he wants to happen.”
Albert Cabungal is in charge of workers’ attendance at the provincial government of Oriental Mindoro.
”I think the reason why people think it’s OK for them to be late is because in the workplace, it’s accepted, to be late. Although there is the deduction (in pay), people, especially the office heads, they tolerate their subordinates being late.“
He says the office is using fingerprint scanner where employers have to log in to and out from work... as a way to stop them from being late. But this hasn’t been very successful...
”There are loopholes, or ways to get away with the system,” he explains. “Like coming in at 7:30 then logging in then going home... then coming in at a much later time. Actually, there’s no perfect system, there’s always cracks in the system.”
Earlier this month, a new law was passed to try and strop Filipinos from being late.
Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte announced the new law.
”Republic Act 10535 signed on May 15 by the President. This now sets the Philippines Standard Time. All government offices, agencies, instruments, bureaus shall now coordinate with the PAG-ASA once a month to synchronize official time pieces and devices.”
According to the law, the state weather bureau will determine Philippines Standard Time as a single time reference for all government agencies. This means all government offices open and close at the same time to provide more efficient services for public.
The reference time will also be available online through its website.
The law also mandates the National Telecommunications Commission to require all TV and radio stations to use the standard time. Otherwise, their franchise can be revoked or cancelled... along with a fine of up to 1,000 US dollars.
As a local radio program director Christian Tobillo welcomes the new law.
“As a broadcaster, I favour the Philippines Standard Time because we’ll have a common and correct time to give because people are tuning in to us. If the PST will be strictly followed, it can reduce tardiness although punctuality and discipline still depends on a person.”
And to grow a new habit of being punctual, public schools and government offices will hold campaigns on the value of time. The government will also provide a public display of standard-time devices and declare the first week of every year is also declared as National Time Consciousness Week.
But it’s a hard habit to break...
After the law was introduced earlier this month, nothing has changed in the workers’ attendance habit says Albert Cabungal.
“I don’t know why there is so little information dissemination when the law was passed. People are not informed for the reason why they created such a law.... what’s the purpose of having this PST.”
Don Zian Encarnacion, a Professor of political science at a local college in Calapan says it needs more than new clocks to break the habit.
“The tardiness itself is not merely about time, but more it’s more of culture,” he explains.
“Even if we try to adopt or change the time, the hours, the days, the minutes, if the mindset of Filipinos is I will always be late, it won’t do anything. Basically, we need to change the culture itself of the Philippines.“
And to do this, Albert Cabungcal says everyone must start from oneself.
“To set the example, you must be the example. For change to happen, the person should be the change that he wants to be or he wants to happen.”
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