Awarding of safety seal certificates had been launched at the establishments in Greenhills Shopping Center on July 12, 2021. INQUIRER file photo / Niño Jesus Orbeta
MANILA, Philippines — The government has approved the applications of 21,676 establishments for safety seals, proving that more businesses are compliant with public health protocols being imposed to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Usec. Ireneo Vizmonte, of the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) Management Services Group, said in an online forum on Tuesday that the figure was from the approvals of different government agencies.
He said 3,169 applications were approved by the DTI, 780 by the Department of Tourism (DOT), 251 by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), 4,578 by the Department of the Interior, and Local Government (DILG), and 12,898 by local government units.
The Safety Seal Certification Program is a voluntary certification scheme that affirms that an establishment is compliant with the minimum public health standards set by the government and integrates its contact tracing efforts with StaySafe.ph, according to the DTI website.
There are different issuing authorities for the safety seal depending on the nature of the establishment.
The safety seal, given for free, is valid for six months, except for those issued to tourism enterprises that are valid for one year. Guidelines for the program were signed by the DILG, DTI, DOT, DOLE, and Department of Health in April. Vizmonte said the initiative was meant to increase consumer confidence in establishments that are found compliant.
He said the DTI is also looking at conducting a virtual inspections of businesses applying for a safety seal to reduce physical interaction in granting the certification.