The Inter-Agency Task Force hopes its “Safety Seal Certification Program” will encourage consumers to patronize establishments that follow health and safety protocols.
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez clarifies that the seal, which will be posted on store entrances, will not be a requirement for businesses to continue operations
THE Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) has started a new program to encourage consumers to patronize establishments that follow safety protocols.
Five Cabinet members on Friday (April 23) signed Joint Memorandum Circular 21-01 to put in place a “Safety Seal Certification Program” for local businesses.
Safety seal tags establishments that strictly implement minimum health protocols in their stores and workplaces, such as the proper wearing of face shields and face masks, good ventilation, disinfection, and using the contact tracing system of StaySafe.ph.
(See also: DTI pleased as majority of NCR businesses comply with health protocols )
For a store to qualify, the business must have its permits in order, use StaySafe.ph for contact tracing, and observe the minimum health standards at all times.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Department of Tourism (DOT), the Department of Health (DOH), and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will be in charge of inspecting the facilities of the applicant for compliance.
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez clarifies that the seal, which will be posted on store entrances, will not be a requirement for businesses to continue operations.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año adds that the seal is valid for 6 months for most establishments and 1 year for tourism enterprises, but may be revoked at any time if businesses broke protocols.
Aside from business establishments, government offices are also urged to secure a safety seal from the DILG, or the Philippine National Police.
The issuance of safety seals has been part of DTI's plans since 2020 but only pushed through now.
The delay in implementing such measures to bring people safely outdoors could be that it was only recently that the privately-owned StaySafe.PH app was turned over to the government.
“There’s nothing new, we're just reinforcing compliance with safety health protocols,” Año admitted during the briefing.
(HD)
Tags: #Covid19, #InterAgenyTaskForce, #SafetySealCertification