Firms told: Secure safety seal, increase capacity

MANILA, Philippines — To increase operational capacity, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) advised restaurants and other establishments to secure a safety seal.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said establishments granted a safety seal from DOLE and other concerned government agencies are allowed at least 10 percent additional operational and venue capacity as provided under the supplemental guidelines on the implementation of the safety seal program.

Bello noted that firms in areas under Alert Level 2 who have secured a safety seal are granted 20 percent additional operational and venue capacity.

In areas under Alert Level 2, allowed capacity is 70 percent, and with a safety seal from DOLE or DTI that is another 20 percent so it’s almost 90 percent, almost full capacity, Bello explained at a virtual forum Sunday.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the increase in allowable occupancy was meant to encourage businesses to apply for the safety seal and strengthen health protocols in establishments and workplaces.

“This seal is one of the government’s measures to restart the economy under the new normal and increase employment opportunities by making the reopening of business more viable for operation,” Lopez explained.

Under the supplemental guidelines, DOLE and the local government units are designated as issuing authorities for Information Technology and Business Process Management (IT-BPM) companies and dental clinics, respectively.

The supplemental guideline requires establishments and workplaces to designate safety officers who will be in charge of enforcing public health standards in their areas.

“Our safety officers play a key role in boosting the overall economic productivity of our firms. When workers are assured of their safety and health at their respective workplaces, work quality and productivity are also enhanced,” Bello said in a statement.

Safety officers who have not yet undergone the required occupational safety and health (OSH) training may avail themselves of the free OSH training offered at DOLE or at any DOLE-accredited training organization.

The government highly encourages proprietors of air-conditioned indoor establishments and workplaces to procure carbon dioxide detectors to better monitor the adequacy of ventilation.