DTI-7 urges consumers to patronize establishments with safety seal

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

CEBU CITY -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-7) Central Visayas encourages consumers to patronize establishments with Safety Seal Certification to assure the public of the establishments’ compliance with minimum public health standards set by the government under the DTI- DOLE-DOH-DILG-DOT-DTI JOINT MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 21-01 series of 2021.

An information drive via virtual press conference is scheduled on June 22 with DTI-7 and other concerned government agencies such as the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Department of Tourism (DOT) to brief the public and to answer all questions related to Safety Seal Certification Program.

The circular provides that the Safety Seal shall be valid for six (6) months from the date of issuance, except for those issued to tourism enterprises which shall be valid for one year and can be renewed subject to continued compliance with the eligibility requirements.

Not all applications for Safety Seal are automatically approved as the agency concerned must do a physical inspection to ensure that the business establishment complies with the minimum health protocols, which include proper ventilation in the establishment, the circular reads.

Under the joint MC implementing guidelines on safety seal certification program, establishments that are covered by 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 (MICE) venues and facilities, and restaurants inside hotels and resorts can apply for their Safety Seal certificate with the Department of Tourism (DOT).

Manufacturing, construction sites, utilities, information and communication companies, and warehouses are covered by the Department of Labor and Employment 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 local government units (LGUs)

According to DTI-7 that 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.