The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading the bill that seeks to set a standard time for the entire country, and transmitted it to the Senate for plenary action.

Valenzuela Rep. Magtanggol Gunigudo, principal author of the bill, said it is now up to the Senate whether or not to approval the Philippine Standard Time (PST) bill for eventual ratification.

“By synchronizing the official watches and clocks in the entire archipelago, all Filipinos can sing the national anthem at the same time,” Gunigundo.

Gunigundo said all national and local government offices shall display the PST on their official time devices, including bundy clocks, in accordance with the official time provided by the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) using its network time protocol.

“With a set PST, we can welcome a new year in unison, blend time-sensitive chemical mixtures like medicines and food ingredients and synchronize security locks and other devices,” Gunigundo said.

Gunigundo said an established PST can run air, land and sea transportation lines, develop appreciation of punctuality, and practice the use of time wisely to be more productive at home, school and the workplace.

The bill seeks to provide funds for the installation, operation and maintenance of synchronized time devices to be displayed in key public places.

Under the bill, the PAGASA’s time unit, in coordination with the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) shall be tasked to monitor, maintain and disseminate the PST throughout the country.

The bill mandates the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to require the participation of all government and private television and radio stations to ensure that synchronization can be undertaken even in remote parts of the country.

The NTC and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) shall impose sanctions against the head of government radio and TV stations and heads of national government offices for non-compliance of the time synchronization and other provisions of the Act.

The bill would also provide for the institutionalization of a “National Time Consciousness Week” which will have to be celebrated every first week of the year, once it is eventually enacted into law.