The Makati City government is currently investigating the work permits of employees in commercial establishments after more than 40 employees of a supermarket were found to be using fake health certificates.
Mayor Abigail Binay emphasized that the city will not tolerate any actions that compromise the health and safety of its citizens.
According to City Health Officer Dr. Ronald Unson, city inspectors discovered 48 individuals with fake health clearances in the employee records of WalterMart Makati.
The suspicion arose when two meat handlers from WalterMart applied for a Meat Handler’s Permit, and the documents they submitted were found to be fake.
A joint inspection by the City Veterinary Services Department, the City Health Office, and the Business Permit and Licensing Office revealed that a total of 48 individuals submitted fake health clearances.
The supermarket’s management admitted they did not verify the documents with the city’s official Health Clearance Certificate system.
City inspectors also found out that some employees obtained their fake health certificates from a coworker, who charged them P1,000 to bypass the required procedure.
Unson stressed that it is the employer’s responsibility to ensure that their employees adhere to the health and safety regulations of the city. Allowing workers to commit fraud to skip proper health checks puts the public at risk of contracting infectious diseases.
It was reported that a health clearance certificate from the City Health Office is a requirement to obtain an Individual Mayor’s Permit, which is mandatory for all employees in both private and government establishments and offices in Makati.
Under City Ordinance 2019-A-102, non-food-related establishment workers are required to pay P80 for a health clearance certificate, while food-related establishment workers and executives, managers, and supervisors are required to pay different fees.
Additionally, they need to pay P50 for the processing of their documents and the seminar.
The health clearance certificate is valid for one year from the date of issuance but must be renewed annually.
Employees without health certificates will be fined P1,000 for the first offense, P2,000 for the second offense, and P3,000 for the third offense. The establishment owner will be responsible for paying the penalties.
The City Law Department is currently reviewing the case for potential filing of criminal charges for the falsification of official documents.
In February 2023, the city introduced an online application for health clearance certificates through https://makati.healthcert.ph.
The digitized and centralized health clearance system aims to simplify the process for employees to obtain their health certificates without having to visit City Hall.
