DID you know that all over the world Filipinos have a reputation for habitual tardiness?

“Because for many Pinoys, to be late is the norm rather than an aberration,” said Education Secretary Jesli A. Lapus.

As a result, “Filipino time, a.k.a. always late” had led to the low work and productivity value put on Filipino workers, he said.

To counter the image of the Filipino as perennially late, the Department of Education, along with the nongovernment Junior Chamber International Senate Philippines (JCI Senate) and the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities (PACU), have launched WATCH, acronym for “We are Time Conscious and Honest.”

The campaign aims to give students “the right outlook about time which can have a great impact on … work and productivity.”

As part of the 10-year advocacy, the DepEd and partner organizations will conduct essay writing and oratorical contests on punctuality and how to be organized, and time games, among others. The 20,000-member JCI Senate will hold free conferences and workshops on time management and planning.

Lapus said the activities would complement the curriculum’s values education component.

The WATCH game plan was outlined in DepEd’s Memorandum no. 387 (Series of 2008) signed by Teodosio Sangil Jr., undersecretary for finance and administration.

Priority targets are the 20 million-plus students in the country’s 37,352 elementary and 5,000-plus high schools and DepEd’s nearly 500,000 teaching personnel, said Assistant Secretary Jonathan Malaya of the special projects division, who is overseeing the project.

Valuing time

Malaya is optimistic that, through the long-term project, students will learn the value of being on time and not cheating in school examinations, and realize that honesty is really the best policy.

He said at least one outstanding public school per town would be chosen as recipient of a badge of honor.

Lapus expects that, if DepEd is able to pursue Project WATCH earnestly and consistently, it will “create a ripple effect of positive change in our society.”

Earlier, in a speech before the group Organized Response for the Advancement of Society (Oras), Lapus quoted author M. Scott Peck who wrote, “Until you value yourself, you will not value your time. Until you value your time, you will do anything with it.”

Lapus said, “Many manhours are lost when employees turn in late or when important deadlines are not met. Many opportunities have been laid to waste for falling short of what is expected of us simply because we did not have the time to adequately prepare. Many chances have been botched because we did not make the grade in terms of punctuality, (a sign of) professionalism. It all adds up to not respecting Father Time. And we suffer the consequence of such disrespect.”

Lapus stressed that “punctuality and civility go hand in hand.” He urged people to shake off mindsets and attitudes that were counterproductive. “How can we expect our society to change if we don’t begin to change ourselves?” he said.

CHED support

Commission on Higher Education chair Emmanuel Angeles expressed full support for Project WATCH.

Angeles, whose family owns and operates the Pampanga-based Angeles University Foundation, a PACU member, said, “As an educator, I’ve been advocating for this right attitude towards time for more than 50 years.”

Outgoing PACU president Gonzalo Duque stressed the “need (to) strengthen the value of punctuality and honesty as key elements of success.”

Duque heads the Lyceum Northwestern University in Dagupan City.

Aside from CHEd, the DepEd also plans to involve the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in the project.