THE CITY Government of Davao is now accepting Safety Seal certificate applications as mandated by Executive Order (EO) No. 3 series of 2022. The application is free.
Business Bureau head Maribel Paguican revealed this during the “Madayaw Davao” program of 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio on Thursday, Feb. 24.
Paguican said the city’s implementation of the Safety Seal Certification Program complies with the mandate of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Memorandum Circular No. 2021-053.
“Ang Safety Seal pertinent ni siya, relevant ni siya sa atoang kampanya sa atong pandemic sa COVID-19 na atong ginaatubang na problema (The Safety Seal Certification Program is pertinent and relevant to our campaign against the COVID-19 pandemic, which is the problem we have been facing),” she said.
EO 3, which was signed on January 31, 2022, states, “The city shall strongly encourage all covered Davao City establishments to apply for a `Safety Seal’ and display the same under the design required by the DILG.”
The new order cited Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 21-01, Series of 2021 – Implementing Guidelines of the Safety Seal Certification Program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Tourism (DOT), and the Department of Trade, and Industry (DTI).
The JMC’s aim is for the Safety Seal to help assure consumers and the public in general of establishments’ compliance with the minimum public health standards (MPHS) set by the government, and to safely reopen the economy.
Paguican said, “Ang purpose ani is ma-contain nato ang pag-spread sa atoang COVID-19 virus. Magtinabangay ta because it talks about our MPHS (The purpose is to contain the spread of COVID-19. Let’s help because it talks about our MPHS).”
The DILG is the issuing authority for public or government offices and agencies. Some of Davao City’s government offices already received the Safety Seal stickers from the DILG while others are currently being inspected or are waiting for inspection.
She also said that private establishments may apply for a Safety Seal certificate through the DOLE, DTI, DOT, or the Davao City local government unit (LGU).
Manufacturing plants and other related industries or establishments may apply at DOLE while tourism-related establishments may apply at DOT, and barber shops, salons, and related businesses may apply at DTI.
The Davao City LGU, for its part, will certify wet and night markets, malls, educational institutions, and learning centers, among others.
The four issuing authorities are mandated to establish a microsite where all information about the Safety Seal Certification Program will be made available.
“Ang Safety Seal, sticker ni sya nga idikit sa inyong establishments kung naka comply ka, naa man ta’y checklist dapat sundon. Ang Safety Seal is a physical manifestation nga ang establishment compliant sya until naay magreklamo pwede bawion. Pwede pud nila ma-correct ang ilang error og mabalik pud sa ilaha ang certificate (The Safety Seal sticker will be displayed in your establishment if you are compliant, there’s a checklist that you must comply with. The Safety Seal is a physical manifestation that an establishment is compliant until a complaint is raised, it can be revoked. The erring establishment may correct their error and the Safety Seal will be re-issued),” Paguican added.
She said applicants may download the checklist/application form here 👉
https://busbureau.davaocity.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/SAFETY-SEAL-CERTIFICATION-CHECKLIST.pdf.
Business owners will have to do a self-assessment to determine if they are compliant with the items on the checklist. If they have complied, they can then contact the Business Bureau via landline number (082) 241-1000 Loc 377/378 or email address busbureau@davaocity.gov.ph. and request for an inspection.
She continued, “Pag-adto sa inspection team, i-validate ang compliance. If okay, we will immediately issue the Safety Seal sticker and will be placed on their establishments. The sticker is valid for six months. If an establishment has no violation, it will be renewed but if there is any violation, the Safety Seal will be revoked but they will be given time to correct their violation. Ibalik lang sa ila pag compliant na sila (The inspection team will validate the compliance. If it’s okay, we will immediately issue the Safety Seal sticker and will be placed on their establishments. The sticker is valid for six months. If an establishment has no violation, it will be renewed but if there is any violation, the Safety Seal will be revoked but they will be given time to correct their violation. It will be re-issued once they are compliant).”
The Safety Seal, according to her, will boost the confidence of customers when entering a Safety Seal-certified establishment and assure them that the establishment they are going into is compliant with the MPHS.
