The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), together with the local government units (LGUs), will inspect public buildings, markets, and commercial establishments to check if they adhere to the minimum public health standards (MPHS) and if they are using StaySafe.ph application under the Safety Seal certification program.
DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said Friday, April 23, that the safety seal program is an inter-agency effort which grants establishments a "safety seal" that has to be displayed conspicuously to indicate that the building or establishment is compliant to health protocols amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
"With the Safety Seal being awarded by the DILG and LGUs as issuing authorities, we are keeping the public away from the coronavirus. 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 (With the building owners adhering and observing the MPHS, the people will be confident that they are safe when entering the buildings),” Año said.
Año said that the DILG will be awarding safety seals to compliant government establishments such as city and municipal halls, provincial capitals, and all other LGU facilities and buildings.
It will also inspect police camps and stations; Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) offices and fire stations; provincial, district, and city jails; barangay halls and other community facilities; and all other public establishments not covered by the other issuing agencies.
On the other hand, the LGUS shall inspect and grant the safety seal to 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.
The safety seal bears the issuing authority, date of issuance, safety seal number, and a QR (quick response) code to ensure its authenticity.
“The reality is we cannot keep people from entering various establishments dahil kailangan nilang maghanap-buhay (they need to earn a living). Aming hangarin na itong safety seal ay magsilbing palatandaan na kapag nakita nila ay maging panatag silang may mga pamantayang sinusunod ang establisimyentong iyon para maging ligtas sila doon (Our aim is that the safety seal will serve as a reminder that people are at ease that the establishments are are following sets of safety guidelines),” said DILG spokesperson Jonathan Malaya.
He also urged the public to always look for the Safety Seal as their requisite prior to entering an establishment.
To receive the safety seal, Año said private and public establishments must pass eligibility requirements patterned on the MPHS currently being implemented by the IATF and the national government.
Based on DILG's Joint Memorandum Circular No. 21 which is the implementing guidelines of the Safety Seal program, establishments shall require health declaration and/or symptoms assessment; non-contact temperature check is performed to all employees, customers, and any individual who enters the premises; customers and other individuals who enter the premises are asked to register with StaySafe.ph; and, as applicable, an isolation area for symptomatic employees shall be installed.
Further, among other requirements are the availability of handwashing stations, soap and sanitizers, and hand drying equipment or supplies (e.g., single use paper towel) to employees and clients/visitors which are placed in strategic locations in the establishment; observance of physical distancing or spacing through installation of physical barriers in enclosed areas where physical distancing may be compromised, i.e., blocking off of chairs, use of markers or stickers on the floor for spacing; and, ensure adequate air exchange in enclosed (indoor) areas.
If all requisites are fulfilled, Año said that the owner or authorized representative of the business establishment can download the form from the website or secure from the office of issuing authority the appropriate checklist and perform self-assessment.
“The process starts from downloading the form then validations, and inspection with the help of the PNP shall follow bago po maibigay ang Safety Seal,” he added.
Año also noted that 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 with the eligibility requirements set by the JMC.