PNoy urged to declare use of daylight saving time

MANILA, Philippines - A House leader has called on Malacañang to declare the use of daylight-saving time (DST) starting November this year to January 2015, and then from March to June next year, to prepare the country for a looming power crisis.

In House Resolution 1334, Deputy Minority Leader and LPG-MA Rep. Arnel Ty urged the Aquino administration to proclaim the observance of DST over the seven-month period “in order to significantly conserve energy."

This is in anticipation of Luzon grid’s projected 400 to 1,000 megawatt (MW) power supply shortage between March to June 2015, Ty added.

"This early, it has become absolutely imperative for the country to adopt highly aggressive but practical energy demand management strategies,” Ty said.

DST “saves” daylight by advancing, usually by one hour, the official standard time.

Ty said that Filipinos would have to wake up an hour earlier than usual but they would also leave work or school an hour earlier than customary.

He said a 1936 law, Commonwealth Act No. 91', authorizes the President of the Philippines to proclaim the resort to DST, “when the public interest so requires,” for a cumulative period not exceeding seven months each year.

"DST has been proven to be effective in reducing energy consumption. In fact, many countries are already on DST mode for several months of the year,” Ty said.

He cited the case of the United States, which goes on DST mode every year from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November.

"DST works in such a way that the more days we are in DST mode, the greater the energy saved over time,” he added.

Ty said Malacañang should consult with business sector, including the airline industry, which would have to adjust to DST.

Once on DST mode, businesses would have to recalibrate devices such as time clocks, security systems and timed safes. Even traffic lights may have to be reprogrammed to properly recognize rush hour.

DST was last proclaimed during the Ramos administration, when the country was reeling from a crippling power crisis.