DTI urges establishments to get Safety Seal

IN ORDER to help the safety of consumers, guests and employees of private and public establishments, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is urging establishments to apply for the Safety Seal Certification and adopt the StaySafe.ph contact tracing application of the government.

DTI-Central Luzon Director Leonila T. Baluyut said by applying for and getting the Safety Seal, establishments are assuring consumers and stakeholders that the government has inspected the office, shop or establishment and it has been found to be compliant with the minimum public health standards.

The Safety Seal Certification program is an Inter-Agency Task Force directive (IATF Resolution No. 87 s. 2020) response by different agencies such as the DTI, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Tourism (DOT).

Baluyut stressed that while the Safety Seal is not mandatory for the continued operation of establishments, the presence of the seal in establishments is a welcome assurance of their sense of commitment to safety, especially in the midst of the pandemic.

Among establishments that can get safety seals include groceries, supermarkets, shopping clubs, convenience stores, construction supply/hardware stores, logistic service providers, barbershops and salons, and service and repair shops.

Public establishments may apply with the DILG while tourism-related enterprises and restaurants inside hotels and resorts may apply with the DOT.

Manufacturing, construction, utilities, warehouses and media companies may apply with the DOLE while malls, retail stores, restaurants outside hotels and resorts, cinemas, gyms and spas, and other private establishments may apply with their local government units.

The DTI official further stated that the Safety Seal has a validity of one year for tourism-related enterprises and six months for establishments covered by the other agencies.

She also asked the public to check the authenticity of the seal, which must be displayed in a conspicuous place in the establishment.

It must bear the logo of the issuing agency, the Safety Seal number, the date it was issued and its expiration date.