(FILE) ALFRESCO DINING Several patrons of a shopping mall in Binondo, Manila, eat lunch in an outdoor space to follow a government task force guideline limiting restaurants, cafes, and
other food establishments to open-air dining, takeouts, and deliveries as a precaution, as COVID-19 cases are rising, especially in Metro Manila and four nearby provinces.—MARIANNE BERMUDEZ
MANILA, Philippines — Five government agencies signed Friday the implementing guidelines of the “Safety Seal Certification Program” which affirms the compliance of a business establishment to minimum public health standards.
The joint memorandum circular on the implementing guidelines of the Safety Seal Certification Program was signed by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Department of Tourism (DOT), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and the Department of Health (DOH).
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the safety seal will affirm that an establishment is following minimum public health protocols and will assure customers of the safety of being in that establishment.
“Likewise, it indicates that the establishment is using the StaySafe digital contact tracing application to strengthen the contact tracing initiative of government now led by DILG to effectively contain the spread of COVID-19,” Lopez said during the signing of the guidelines.
“So it basically also, in a way, commits that sector, that establishment to abide by the medium health protocol,” he added.
Lopez said the requirements for the application for a safety seal “would be very simple.”
“It’s just really the certification of their business permits, the usual mayor’s permit, business permit, and the same time, it is required that they download the StaySafe app, and use that in their establishment,” Lopez said.
“And of course, the main requirement is to follow the minimum health protocols,” he added.
Based on their estimates, Lopez said they are expecting at least 500,000 establishments in the retail sector alone will apply for the initiative.