ILOILO City – A total of 434 establishments were certified to be compliant with the public health and safety protocols against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
These establishments have been issued with Safety Seal Certification, a voluntary certification scheme by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
According to Norman Tabud, chief of the Business Processing and Licensing Office (BPLO), they were targeting at least five percent of 13,000 establishments registered here before the end of the year.
“We will continue to intensify our campaign so more establishments will apply next year,” said Tabud.
This voluntary certification scheme uses or integrates its contact tracing with StaySafe.ph.
This online application system is particularly for establishments under the scope of the Department of Trade Industry (DTI) which include supermarkets, groceries, and membership shopping clubs; convenience stores; construction supply/hardware stores; logistics service outlets; barbershops and salons; service and repair shops.
ELIGIBILITY
Applicant establishments have to comply with the minimum eligibility requirements to qualify for the Safety Seal certification.
These requirements include the following:
* compliance with registration or accreditation requirements (mayor’s permit, DTI/Securities and Exchange Commission, or Department of Tourism accreditation)
* use of StaySafe.ph or any contact tracing tool integrated with the same; and
* enforcement of the minimum public health standards (MPHS).
Meanwhile, the MPHS included the following:
* putting up of screening or triage area at different points-of-entry where employees submit health declaration and/or symptoms are assessed; non-contact temperature check is performed to all employees, customers, and any individuals who enter the premises; customers and other individuals who enter the premises are asked to register with StaySafe.ph; and as applicable, an isolation area shall be installed for symptomatic employees and once identified as a suspect COVID-19 case shall be reported to the Barangay Health and Emergency Response Team (BHERT) immediately for proper observance of COVID-19 protocols
* 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, that is, blocking off of chairs, use of markers or stickers on the floor for spacing;
* ensure adequate air exchange in enclosed (indoor) areas as cited in the Department of Labor and Employment’s Order No. 224-21 or the Guidelines on Ventilation for Workplaces and Public Transport to Prevent and Control the Spread of COVID-19;
* disinfection protocol in accordance with the Department of Health’s Memorandum No. 2020-0157 and 0157-A or the “Guidelines on Cleaning and Disinfection in Various Settings as an Infection Prevention and Control Measure Against COVID-19” and Cleaning and Disinfection of Environmental Surfaces in the Context of COVID-19 by the World Health Organization (WHO);
* regular sanitization of chairs, desks, tables, counters, pens, doorknobs, equipment, devices, workstations, comfort rooms, and other high-touch surfaces;
* wearing of facemasks, face shields, especially in enclosed places and wearing of other protective outer garments as warranted;
* establishment of a referral system for medical and psychosocial services;
* designation of Safety Officer; and
* facility for proper storage, collection, treatment, and disposal of used facemasks and other infectious waste.
Meanwhile, Mayor Jerry Treñas thanked the establishments.
“Health protocols are necessary to ensure that transmissions are halted. We thank all the establishments who applied for the certification and helping protect our fellows,” said Treñas./PN
