FIVE government agencies will conduct a public information drive on the safety seal certification program.
This program aims to assure the consumers and the public in general of establishments compliance with the minimum public health standards set by the government.
This will be awarded by Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), along with the Department of Health, Department of Labor and Employment (Dole), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Department of Tourism (DOT) through a joint memorandum circular (MC).
The safety seal will be valid for six months from the date of issuance, except for those issued to tourism enterprises which will be valid for one year. The safety seal is also renewable subject to continued compliance with the eligibility requirements.
The MC also clarified that not all applications for safety seal are automatically approved as the agency concerned has to do a physical inspection to ensure that the business establishment complies with the minimum health protocols, which include proper ventilation in the establishment.
Establishments that are covered by the DTI are groceries, supermarkets, membership shopping clubs, convenience stores, construction supply and hardware stores, outlets of logistics service providers, barbershops and salons, and service and repair shops.
Tourism-related establishments like hotels, resorts, apartment hotels, other accredited accommodation establishments, travel and tours services, meetings, incentives, conferences and events venues and facilities, and restaurants inside hotels and resorts can apply for their safety seal certificate with the DOT.
Manufacturing, construction sites, utilities, information and communication companies, and warehouses are covered by the Dole while malls, wet markets, other retail stores, restaurants outside hotels and resorts, fast food, eateries, coffee shops, banks, money changers, pawnshops, remittance centers, car wash, laundry service centers, art galleries, libraries, museums, zoo, sports centers, tutorial, testing, review centers, gyms, spas, cinemas, arcades and all other private establishments are covered by the DILG.
Establishments with safety seal are expected to strictly implement proper wearing of face shields and face masks, good ventilation, disinfection, and using the contact tracing system of StaySafe.ph to maintain the good housekeeping badge.
The lead government agencies also encourage consumers to patronize establishments with safety seal. (PR)