Mexico City – The current daylight savings time could be the last in Mexico. During his Wednesday morning press conference, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) announced that there is “a great possibility” that it will be eliminated.
“A study carried out by the Ministry of Energy, the Federal Electricity Commission, and the Ministry of Health concluded that the damage to health is greater than the importance of the economic savings obtained by lower consumption of energy,” the President explained.
The Ministry of Health recommended eliminating daylight savings time and maintaining standard time throughout the year.
“Several International Sleep Societies advise a schedule without changes and recommend maintaining standard time permanently, especially for children and the elderly, since it promotes a more stable biological rhythm, improves intellectual performance, and helps to reduce heart disease, obesity, insomnia and depression, Mexico’s Secretary of Health, Dr. Alcocer, said.
“In addition, fatigue, decreased school and work performance, lower productivity in general and the increased use of stimulants have been reported,” he added.
Daylight savings time has been utilized in Mexico since 1996 and the reason for implementing it was to generate economic savings in terms of electrical energy. ‘Springing forward’ saves Mexicans around 1 billion pesos in energy costs each year, money that could be compensated if all citizens take measures at home.
“We could make, with everyone’s participation, a commitment to save (electricity),” AMLO said.
Sources: El Economista • Excelsior
