BACOLOD City – To ensure that health and safety protocols are implemented as businesses adapt to the new normal, Mayor Evelio Leonardia ordered the creation of the Bacolod Safety Seal Committee (BSSC).
“(This is) with the end view of protecting the public from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and assure them of the compliance of business establishments to minimum public health standards,” Leonardia stated in Executive Order (EO) 37, series of 2021 issued on Sunday.
The directive adopts the Safety Seal Certification Program under Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) 21-01, series of 2021 of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Tourism (DOT), and Department of Health (DOH).
Leonardia appointed Business Permits and Licensing Division head Stela Rose Rayos as BSSC chairperson, with members from the City Mayor’s Office, Bacolod City Police Office, City Health Office, City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, Public Information Office, Local Economic Investment Promotions Office, and Management Information Technology and Computer Services.
The Safety Seal Certification Program covers all private business establishments, select public places, and other offices, including wet markets; retail stores; restaurants outside hotels/resorts; fast food, eateries, coffee shops; banks, money changers, pawnshops, remittance centers; car wash; and laundry service centers.
Also included are art galleries, libraries, museums, zoos, sports centers, tutorial, testing, and review centers, gyms, spas, cinemas, arcades, and all other private establishments.
The BSSC will recommend to the city mayor or his duly authorized representative the establishments, offices or public places eligible for the issuance of the Safety Seal.
It will also ensure strict compliance with the JMC 21-01, or the Implementing Guidelines of the Safety Seal Certification Program, in the Eligibility and Certification Process, and also in the Revocation, Renewal and Reinstatement of the Safety Seal of applicants and establishments.
It will also handle complaints from the public on non-compliance with the minimum public health standards and the use of the Stay Safe application by establishments and businesses granted the Safety Seal.
As part of the safety seal committee, the Data Management and Online Safety Seal Certification Portal Team will create a portal for Safety Seal Certification via www.bacolodcity.gov.ph and develop the content of the portal in coordination with the members of the BSSC.
The Safety Seal Certification Program under the national Inter-Agency Task Force’s Resolution 87 aims to increase compliance of private or public entities to the minimum public health standards, and seeks to encourage the adoption and use of the Stay Safe.ph digital contract tracing application as well as increase consumer confidence as the government safely reopens the economy.
As such, the Safety Seal is a physical manifestation of the compliance of an establishment with the minimum health standards imposed by the government to curb COVID-19 transmission and is to be displayed conspicuously at all entrance points of establishments. (PNA)
