MEMORANDUM Circular 2019-121 was issued by the DILG on July and it orders all local government officials to “reclaim public roads which are being used for private means and in the process rid them of illegal structures and obstructions.” Accordingly, this order is the written reminder of the President’s statement during his last State of the Nation address to remove obstructions on the road sidewalks. The La Trinidad LGU anti-obstruction committee started removing permanent structures along the main highway weeks ago after thorough negotiations and agreements. You may wonder why these obstructions were not removed earlier, but, I tell you, there are many reasons.
In this period of fast development, maybe our ways should be developed too. Prioritization of the safety of everybody around business establishment should be improved. I hope every business owner does this, even if we all know that employment of safety officers for business establishments are not yet a priority for some, making them overlook the safety of passerby near their establishments. The Department of Labor and Employment, however, is trying to make it happen by training safety officers thru the Basic Occupational safety and health (BOSH). Safety officers are meant to ensure the safety of everybody in the establishments, whether workers or customers.
This has now encouraged me to search for business establishment in the locality who deserves recognition for being an example in the community. Do you think there will be one? That shall be determined in the next stories I will be writing. I am really hoping to find at least those who have safety officers who are trying hard to make their employees and customers safe, at all times.
To those who want to re-assess anyway, there are some things that we must consider in our premises. The Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Control (HIRAC) can be a good guide for you. This tool has some steps to follow: First, know what is a hazard and identify every single one of it inside and out of the establishment where everyone has access to. Hazards are those that may harm you, whether biological in kind, maybe chemical, mechanical, physical, or even psychosocial and the like. When they are Identified, you should be able to analyze how risky being around these hazards in that given time. Remember that Risk is proportional to the effect of the hazard when experienced. If there is ever a way to eliminate these hazards, what would that be and who shall do it – that’s control.
Having a safe environment in the business establishment is not just for you, but for everyone whom you are serving. It would also attract more customers as it gives the feeling of having no worries while enjoying whatever you have to offer, including that moment of going to and from your establishment. In fact, if we come to think of it, the president’s order to remove obstruction is not just to ensure safety of those around the establishment. It also invites individuals to walk on the provided alley and have a moment to glance whatever you have in your area as they pass by. A simple but effective act of helping our economy, or say, the Smallest sari-sari store businesses, indirectly.