DILG, LGUs to inspect establishments, grant ‘safety seal’ amid COVID-19 threat

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and all local government units (LGUs) will check business establishments' compliance with health protocols meant to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

In a statement on Friday, the DILG said the government's Safety Seal program would grant a satisfactory shop a “safety seal” display, which would indicate that it complied with health protocols.

The DILG said all public buildings, markets, and commercial establishments would also be inspected for their use of the StaySafe.ph contact tracing application.

DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said the program was a part of the government’s efforts to stop the surge of COVID-19 and give people assurance on the safety of establishments.

“With the Safety Seal being awarded by the DILG and LGUs as Issuing Authorities, we are keeping the public away from the coronavirus,” Año said.

“Sa pagtugon at pagsunod ng mga may-ari ng mga gusaling ito sa MPHS ay magkakaroon ng confidence ang mga tao na safe ang papasukin nilang building,” he added.

[Through the response and compliance of establishment owners to health protocols, people will have confidence that the building they will enter is safe.]

As the issuing authority, the DILG will be awarding the safety seal to compliant government establishments.

Meanwhile, the LGUs are tasked to inspect and grant the safety seal to other establishments such as malls; wet markets; other retail stores; restaurants outside hotels and resorts; fast food stores; eateries; coffee shops; banks; money changers; pawnshops; remittance centers; car wash; laundry service centers; art galleries; libraries; museums; zoo; sports centers; tutorial, testing, and review centers; gyms; spas; cinemas; arcades; and, all other private establishments.

Año said the safety seal may be obtained at “no cost” to the establishment and shall be valid for six months from the date of issuance, except for those issued to tourism enterprises which shall be valid for one year.

The safety seal shall also be renewable subject to continued compliance to the requirements.

The program is under the Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 21 s. of 2021, which was signed by implementing government agencies.

Among the signatories were DILG Secretary Año, DTI Secretary Ramon M. Lopez, DOT Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, DOLE Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III, and DOH Undersecretary Abdullah B. Dumama, Jr.  --NB, GMA News