DIGOS CITY, DAVAO DEL SUR – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Davao del Sur has strengthened its Operation Safe Workplace and Business (SWAB) by integrating the orientation on Safety Seal certification program.
The agency has been at the forefront of monitoring business establishments on their compliance with the rules and guidelines on operating during the pandemic. This is part of DTI’s enforcement activity in accordance with the Joint Memorandum Circular 20-04A, or the DTI-Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Interim Guidelines on Workplace Prevention and Control of COVID-19.
For its part, DTI-Davao del Sur has been visiting various stores and other business establishments to make sure that they are compliant with the existing laws. But starting this month, it has also introduced to the DTI clients within their area of jurisdiction the salient points of the recently issued Joint Memorandum Circular No. 20-21 Series of 2021 of DTI, DOLE, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and Department of Tourism (DOT). This particular issuance encapsulates the government’s Implementing Guidelines of the Safety Seal Certification Program. This is one of the newest initiatives that grants establishments a Safety Seal which will be displayed within their vicinity to indicate that they are compliant with health protocols against COVID-19.
“The Safety Seal given to compliant establishments is an assurance to the public that the building they are entering adheres to the minimum public health standards,” DTI-Davao del Sur Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Provincial Director Maria Victoria R. Placer said.
“This is part of the government’s efforts to stop the surge of COVID-19 as more businesses are now slated to open as we move together towards economic recovery,” she added.
The Safety Seal bears a green check with the sentence “We follow safety & health protocols against COVID-19” printed on it. It likewise indicates the issuing authority, date of issuance, safety seal number, and a QR code to safeguard against counterfeits.
In its latest Operation SWAB, Placer, together with her staff, Gladys Joy Liño, discussed the Safety Seal, while highlighting JMC 20-04A and MC 20-38 or the Updated Guidelines for Barbershops and Salons pursuant to Inter-Agency Task Force Against COVID-19 Resolution 51, series of 2020.
During the same inter-agency operation, the monitoring and enforcement team has visited a total of 43 establishments. This figure consists of four malls/grocery stores, 25 restaurants, three appliance centers, two salons/barbershops, and nine other establishments.
Accordingly, the team observed that some of the establishments lacked physical distancing, especially the customers in common spaces for eating. Thus, the team had to remind them to ensure that the guidelines are strictly observed, including the imposition of social distancing and installation of transparent barriers whenever applicable.
“Out of the 43 establishments monitored, 41 were compliant, while two were not religiously implementing the collection of accomplished Health Symptoms Questionnaire from their customers,” Placer shared.
“This was immediately rectified by providing the erring establishments with a copy of the Health Declaration Form,” the DTI provincial head continued.
The same establishments were also oriented on the guidelines promulgated in the grant of and retention of the Safety Seal Certification. ♦
Date of Release: 4 June 2021