The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) urged on Wednesday, June 2, owners of private establishments to secure a safety certificate confirming their compliance with public health standards set by the government in order to gain the confidence of consumers amid the continuing threat of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19)

DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III said businesses bearing the safety seal would assure the public that they are practicing the minimum health protocols, such as social distancing and the use of a contact-tracing application, particularly the StaySafe.PH application.

While acquiring the safety seal is not mandatory, Bello said it is vital in the national goal of safely reopening the economy.

“With the safety seal certification program in place, we are assuring the public, especially our workers, that they are safe and protected outside their homes, even if we allow our economy to fully reopen,” the Labor chief said.

“While the application is voluntary, I highly encourage our private business owners to seek for the safety certification to help increase public confidence,” Bello urged, further noting that obtaining the safety seal is free of charge.

The DOLE will issue the certification for establishments in the manufacturing, construction, utilities, information and communication, and warehousing industries.

The certification will only be valid for six months from the date of its issuance—except for tourism establishments, which certifications are valid for a year—and has to be renewed a month before expiration.

Other designated issuing authorities are the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Philippine National Police (PNP), and the different local government units.