The Philippine House of Representatives is looking at Daylight Saving Time (DST) to combat the loss of productivity caused by floods during the rainy season.
On August 27, House Bill No. 7750, also known as the Daylight Saving Time Act of 2024, was approved by Congress. This bill empowers the President to implement DST from January 1 to June 1 each year.
The proposed policy aims to maximize the benefits of the dry season. By adjusting Philippine Standard Time (PST) by one hour forward at midnight during the first six months, the bill aims to take advantage of the extra daylight hours.
“Both the labor and the educational sector are suffering from interruptions in the productive hours brought about by torrential rains and the consequent floodings during the rainy season,” the bill states.
The extra daylight hours saved through DST can be used to offset lost productivity in the latter half of the year when heavy rains disrupt school schedules and workdays.
In the 1990s, the Philippines briefly implemented DST to address a national electricity crisis. No other country in the ASEAN observes DST.
