CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga (PIA) -- More establishments in Central Luzon have applied for Safety Seal certification from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in the past two months.
 
Figures from the Consumer Protection Division revealed that from only 135 applications in June 2021, the number has risen to 359 as of July 30. Of this number, 251 have already been approved by DTI Region 3.
 
“From the 251 Safety Seal certifications issued by the DTI 3 offices, 72 were establishments in Bulacan, 69 were in Pampanga, 50 in Tarlac, 26 in Zambales, 18 in Nueva Ecija, 10 in Bataan and 6 in the province of Aurora,” DTI Regional Director Leonila Baluyut said.
 
65 applications were denied because they were not under the jurisdiction of DTI while three were denied because of deficiency in requirements. The rest have pending applications.
 
“By applying for and getting the Safety Seal, establishments are assuring consumers and stakeholders that the government has inspected the office, shop or establishment and it has been found to be compliant with the minimum public health standards,” Baluyut furthered.
 
Establishments certified so far by DTI Region 3 with the Safety Seal include 169 supermarkets/groceries, 34 hardware stores, 21 barbershops and salons, 11 service and repair shops, 10 logistics providers and 6 convenience stores.
 
The Safety Seal Certification program is a directive of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
 
Through this program, government agencies adopted the StaySafe.ph as the official contact tracing app of the government and monitored compliance of establishments with health protocols.
 
Under the guidelines, the Safety Seal is not mandatory for continued operation of establishments, rather the presence of the seal in establishments is a welcome assurance of their sense of commitment to safety, especially in the midst of pandemic.
 
Public establishments may apply with the Department of the Interior and Local Government while tourism related enterprises and restaurants inside hotels and resorts may apply with the Department of Tourism.
 
Manufacturing, construction, utilities, warehouses and media companies may apply with the Department of Labor and Employment while malls, retail stores, restaurants outside hotels and resorts, cinemas, gyms and spas, and other private establishments may apply with their local government units. (CLJD-PIA 3)