DTI pushes safety seals In biz areas

By Susan C. Aro

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet - - The Dept, of Trade and Industry is pushing safety seal certification among business establishments, workplaces, hotels and other facilities to assure their safety and compliance with minimum public health standards set by the government to prevent spread of the Covid-19 virus.
    This based on rules of the National Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management and Emergence of Infectious Disease Resolution No. 87 series 2020 which directs DTI together with the Departments of Health, Labor and Employment, Interior and Local Government, Tourism, and Transportation to issue joint memorandum on requirements for safety seal certification, said Richard Limpin III of DTI-Benguet.
    The safety seal certification is a voluntary certification scheme that affirms the establishment is compliant with minimum public health standards set by the government.
    It also uses and integrates its contact tracing with the StaySafe.ph app., Limpin explained during the meeting of the Provincial IATF on Covid-19.
     There are various issuing authorities depending on their coverages.    
    Local government units cover malls, wet markets, other retail stores, restaurants outside hotels/resorts, fast foods, eateries, coffee shops, banks, money changers, pawnshops, remittance centers, car wash, laundry service centers, art galleries, libraries, museums, zoo, sports center, tutorial, testing, and review centers, gyms, spas, cinemas, arcades and other establishments.
    For  DOT, primary tourism enterprises and restaurants inside hotels/resorts, DOLE  for  manufacturing, construction sites, utilities, information and communication companies, and warehouses while  DTI  covers  groceries, supermarkets, membership shopping clubs, convenience stores, construction supply and hardware stores, logistics service providers, barbershops and salons, service and repair shops.
    These includes DILG and the  Philippine National Police for  city/ municipal halls, provincial capitols, all other local government unit facilities and buildings, police camps and station, Bureau of Fire Protection Offices and Fire Stations, Provincial/District/City Jails, Barangay halls and other barangay facilities, and all other public establishments not covered by the other issuing agencies.
    Application for a certification is free at no cost to the establishment, renewable and valid for six months except in the case of tourism enterprises where the seal is valid for one year.
    Among requirements are the following: valid business permit/mayor’s permit, DTI/Securities and Exchange Commission registration or DOT accreditation; StafySafe.ph or any contact tracing tool integrated with the same; availability of temperature or thermal scanner; health declaration sheet; QR codes for StaySafe.ph and any other contact tracing tool; isolation area; barangay health emergency response teams and other Covid-19 emergency hotlines displayed; hand-washing stations with soap, sanitizers, and hand drying equipment or supplies; installed physical barriers in enclosed areas; availability of personnel-in-charge for monitoring and maintaining social distancing; availability of windows for adequate air exchange in enclosed (indoor) areas among others.
    The seal must be displayed conspicuously at all entrance points according to prescribed dimensions.
    To date, the local government of La Trinidad has already came up with its IATF resolution adopting the safety seal certification. It is inviting establishment owners in the municipality to apply for the safety seal. – PIA Benguet