Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte on Saturday said the city government appealed to business owners to comply with the Safety Seal certification program initiated by the national government to ensure the health and safety of the public while business establishments continue to operate.
Mayor Belmonte, together with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Sec. Ramon Lopez, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Usec. Jonathan Malaya, and DTI Usec. Ireneo Vizmonte on Saturday led the launch of the QC Safety Seal Certification at SM City North EDSA.
Belmonte signed Executive Order 13 s. 2021, which enjoined all establishments to apply for and display a Safety Seal as proof or manifestation of their compliance with the minimum public health protocols such as the use of accredited contact tracing app KyusiPass.
“We hope our businesses will take this as an opportunity to prove that they carry out the necessary measures to ensure the safety of their customers. And in turn, we expect that this will increase customer confidence and positively affect everyone’s livelihood and our economy,” said Belmonte.
Through the executive order, the city government adopted the Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) 21-01 which mandated LGUs to create a Safety Seal Certification Committee that will inspect and verify eligibility of registered business establishments that wish to secure a Safety Seal.
The QC Inspection and Certification Team shall be composed of authorized representatives from the Business Permits and Licensing Department (BPLD), City Health Department (CHD), Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO), QC Police District (QCPD), Public Employment Service Office (PESO), Public Affairs and Information Services Department (PAISD), and the City Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit (CESU).
Further, the following establishments shall be covered: malls, wet markets, and other retail stores; restaurants, fast food shops, coffee shops, and eateries; banks, pawnshops, money changers, and remittance centers; car washes, and laundry service centers.
Also covered under the Order are art galleries, libraries, museums, and zoos; sports centers, gyms, and spas; tutorial, testing, and review centers; and cinemas and arcades.
Belmonte said there are two ways by which establishments can secure the seal.
“First, they can apply via our no-contact online procedure. Or in the course of our regular day-to-day monitoring, the inspection team may verify the eligibility of the inspected establishment for issuance of the Safety Seal,” said Belmonte.