BACOLOD City Mayor Evelio Leonardia has issued Executive Order (EO) No. 37, creating the Bacolod Safety Seal Committee (BSSC) for the Safety Seal Certification Program.
Leonardia, who issued the EO on July 9, said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) adopted StaySafe.ph as the official digital contact tracing application of the government and the institution of a Safety Seal Certificate to ensure compliance with minimum public health
standards.
The EO also directed the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Health, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Tourism, and the Department of Transportation to issue the necessary joint memorandum circular to detail requirements to secure a Safety Seal, which will include the adoption of the StaySafe.ph application and generation of its quick response (QR) code to be displayed in all entrances.
He said the Safety Seal Certification Program provided in IATF Resolution No. 87 aims to increase compliance by private or public entities with the minimum public health standards set by the government.
He added the program seeks to encourage the adoption and use of the Stay Safe.ph digital contract tracing application as well as increase consumer confidence as we safely reopen the economy.
The BSSC will be chaired by Stela Rose Rayos, head of Business Permits and Licensing Division, with its members Benjamin Torre, Executive Assistant, City Mayor’s Office, Authorized representatives from the Bacolod City Police Office, City Health Office, and City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office.
It will also be composed of the inspection team, Reah Marie Rom, Jose Leo Pomperada, Ralph Balbasin; information education campaign team, Danny D. Dangcalan, head of Public Information Office, and Jonah M. Javier, Local Economic Development and Investment Promotion Officer designate; and data management and online safety seal portal team Ramon de los Reyes, officer-in-charge of Management Information Technology and Computer Services.
Leonardia said the Safety Seal is a physical manifestation of the compliance of an establishment to the minimum health standards required by the government to contain the spread of the Covid-19 virus. The seal is to be displayed conspicuously at all entrance points of establishments and shall be at no cost to them.
He said it is necessary to adopt the Safety Seal Certification Program under Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No.21 s. of 2021 to ensure that health and safety protocols are implemented, as part of the “new normal” in the conduct of business and trade in the City of Bacolod.
Under JMC 2001-01, the DILG/Philippine National Police and all local government units are designated as issuing authorities vested with the authority to inspect establishments assigned to it and issue and/or revoke the Safety Seal.
The Safety Seal Certification Program will apply to all private business establishments, selected public places, and other offices, including wet markets, other retail stores, restaurants outside hotels/resorts, and fast food, eateries, Coffee shops, etc. Banks, money changers, pawnshops, remittance centers, car wash, laundry service centers, art galleries, libraries, museums, zoos, sports centers, tutorial, testing, and review centers, gyms, spas, cinemas, arcades, and all other private establishments.