The City Government of Davao has ordered the implementation of the Safety Seal Certification Program through Executive Order (EO) No. 3 series of 2022.
EO 3, 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 in accordance with the design required by the DILG.”
The new Order cited the 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).
With the Safety Seal Certification Program, the JMC aims to assure consumers and the public in general of establishments’ compliance with the minimum public health standards set by the government and to safely reopen the economy.
The DILG, through Memorandum Circular No. 2021-053 issued on May 12, 2021, has provided the implementing guidelines of the Safety Seal Certification Program for the DILG and the Local Government Units as issuing authorities.
EO 3 mandates that the guidelines shall apply to all private business
establishments, selected public places, and other offices, including malls, wet markets, and other retail stores; restaurants, fast foods, coffee shops, eateries except for those inside hotels/resorts; banks, pawnshops, money changers, and remittance centers; car washers, laundry service, and centers; art galleries, libraries, museums, and zoos; sports centers, gyms, spas; tutorial, testing, and review centers; cinemas and arcades; and all other private establishments not covered by the other issuing agencies.
The Business Permits and Licensing Division (BPLD), which is the lead office and chair of the Davao City Inspection and Certification Team (DCICT), will issue the Safety Seal Certificate.
Aside from the BPLD, the team is also composed of the City Health Office (CHO), the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), the Integrated Gender and Development Division (IGDD), the City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO), the Davao City Police Office (DCPO), the City Sports Development Division (CSDD), the Vice Regulations Unit (VRU), the City Information Office (CIO), and the City Information and Technology Center (CITC).
The DCICT is mandated to implement DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2021-053 on the Safety Seal Program, prepare a checklist of minimum public health standards (MPHS); establish a website for the Safety Seal application including other information required under DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2021-053; verify the eligibility or compliance of business establishments for Safety Seal Certification; conduct inspections of establishments, and both on-site and via virtual mode component.
It is also directed to be involved in the information and advocacy campaigns about the Safety Seal Certification Program to be publicized; regroup and compose team members according to the type of establishment for inspection; develop and establish a microsite, a dedicated page on the agency’s official website.
The Safety Seal is free. Its display, however, shall constitute a warranty by the establishment concerned of continuing compliance with the MPHS under the Safety Seal Program.
“Establishments found to have misrepresented their compliance with health standards may be subject to the appropriate sanctions including suspension of operations until corrective measures are undertaken,” EO 3 provides.
Private establishments without a valid business permit will receive a No Safety Seal certificate.
The public may report non-compliance with the MPHS and the use of Safe Davao QR application by establishments and businesses granted with the Safe Seal Certificate through the Davao COVID-19 Public Hotline.
For the full provisions of the EO 3 series of 2022, proceed to https://dcstaging.davaocity.gov.ph/transparency/executive-orders/2022-2/. CIOFacebookTwitter
