OZAMIZ CITY, Misamis Occidental (PIA)--The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Misamis Occidental awarded two establishments in Ozamiz with the safety seal certificate for their compliance to the minimum health and safety standards amid the pandemic at Geege Mall Pingol St. Tinago, Ozamiz, July 7.

The awardees were Robinsons Handyman Incorporated and Robinson’s Supermarket Corporation, Ozamiz City.

The awarding of the safety seal certificate is an inter-agency initiative of the government to stop the surge of COVID-19 and ensure business establishments’ compliance to health protocols.

“This is a voluntary certification scheme, in a sense that we do not require establishments. But if you have this Safety Seal, this is an affirmation that they are compliant with the minimum public health standards set by the government,” DTI Provincial Director Jane Tabucan said.

She added that customers visiting certified business establishments are confident of being safe inside the store premises.

Aside from DTI, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Health (DOH), and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), along with the local government units (LGUs) are carrying out the Safety Seal inspection and assessment.

DTI's jurisdictions include supermarkets, groceries, membership shopping clubs, convenience stores, hardware stores, logistics service outlets, barbershops and salons, service and repair shops.

DTI MisOcc Consumers Protection Division Maritess Alcampado said the objective of the program is to let the general public and consumers know that the establishments religiously follow the minimum public health standards to eradicate COVID-19 in the city and province.

“We can guarantee that the store Robinsons Supermarket follows the safety and health protocols against COVID-19. We make sure that you are safe here while buying groceries,” said Robinsons Supermarket Manager Junjie Hernandez.

Meanwhile, Handyman Manager Salome Regis said the store remains vigilant and supportive of the government’s efforts in safeguarding consumer health in all their sites and mitigating the spread of the virus. All of these efforts and initiatives are in line with re-assuring their customers and employees that the Handyman Ozamiz branch provides a safe and healthy environment.

In Misamis Occidental, the certified establishments include the Citi Hardware Gensan Inc., Ace Hardware Gaisano, Robinsons Ozamiz Supermarket, Robinsons Ozamiz Handyman. (Shaine Mae R. Nagtalon/PIA-10/Misamis Occidental)