By Joseph B.A. Marzan
Establishments that violated coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) protocols may kiss their Safety Seals goodbye at any time, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) here in Iloilo.
DTI Iloilo Provincial Director Felisa Judith Degala told Bombo Radyo Iloilo on Tuesday that Safety Seal certifications may be revoked if establishments are found to have violated health protocols after investigation.
Degala said that the public may complain to the DTI Iloilo and they would send a team to investigate these complaints.
If found to have violated COVID protocols, the trade agency would give establishments up to 48 hours to respond and adjust their compliance.
The Safety Seal may be recalled if the establishment would not respond, but they may still apply for reinstatement, under close monitoring by the DTI.
“If they are found by the DTI to have violated health protocols through monitoring or through complaints by consumers or from the general public, we may revoke their Safety Seals. Then, they would have 2 weeks to re-apply and then whatever it was that they did not comply with, they can just comply with that within the period so their certificates may be reinstated,” Degala said.
The DTI has issued Safety Seals to 95 establishments in the city and province of Iloilo, including 16 barbershops, 1 convenience store, 52 groceries and supermarkets, 17 hardware stores, 8 service and repair shops, and 1 logistics service.
Establishments that wish to apply for a Safety Seal may do so through the DTI’s microsite (https://www.dti.gov.ph/safetyseal/). A team will be conducting inspection before granting Safety Seal certification.
Degala says they have not received any complaints or reports, but added that they are monitoring COVID protocol compliance in addition to their regular price monitoring.
Consumers and the public may complain by going to the DTI Iloilo office in Iloilo City or call them through their hotline.
The Iloilo City government recently shuttered several establishments for violating health protocols.
