DTI Safety Seal Applications Reach 600

600 establishments applied for the government’s safety seal, a seal that ensures the public that a certain business entity is following minimum health protocols set for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

DTI is now processing said applications.

DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez said in a Laging Handa briefing on Friday that the trade department has now approved more that 150 safety seal applications from business establishments since it started accepting applications early this year.

However, the trade chief said that the safety seal applications are not automatically approved as they will have to do physical inspecting of the establishments that applied to make sure that minimum health protocols are being followed, and other matters such as ensuring proper ventilation in the establishment.

Lopez added that about 105 establishments that got disapproved.

Establishments covered by the safety seal certification program under the implementing guidelines provided by a joint memorandum circular are barbershops and salons, construction supply and hardware stores, convenience stores, groceries, membership shopping clubs, outlets of logistics service providers, repair shops, and supermarkets.

For the tourism sector however, application for safety seals will be submitted to the Department of Tourism.

establishments for the tourism sector that may apply include hotels, resorts, restaurants inside hotels and resorts, apartment hotels, other accredited accommodation establishments, meetings, incentives, conferences, and events (MICE) venues and facilities, and travel and tours services.

Other business establishments will be able to apply for the safety seal certification from their respective LGUs.

Establishments with safety seal are expected to continuously implement minimum health protocols such as the proper wearing of face shields and face masks, good ventilation, constant disinfection, and using the contact tracing system of StaySafe.ph to maintain the safety seal certification. (GFB)