Parañaque awards ‘Safety Seal’ to SM mall

MANILA, Philippines — The SM Supermall in Sucat, Parañaque has received the “Safety Seal” certification from the city government for complying with the minimum health protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Safety Seal award is a guarantee that business establishments are compliant with the requirements set by the government to ensure public safety and boost consumers’ confidence.

The SM Supermall is the first business establishment to receive the award.

The program was launched by the Departments of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Trade and Industry (DTI) and the city government of Parañaque.

The Safety Seal certificate should be conspicuously displayed in the establishments to inform the public that they adhere to COVID-19 protocols.

The award was handed to SM Supermalls president Steven Tan by Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez, DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez, DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya, Rep. Eric Olivarez and Malanie Malaya, city’s business permit and license office chief, during a simple ceremony.

Olivarez encouraged consumers to patronize business establishments with safety seals.

“The local government is committed to require establishsments to comply with the minimum public health standards as we open more businesses to help them recover from the pandemic,” Olivarez said.

The Safety Seal program, according to Lopez, is adopted from advanced countries such as Singapore.

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases ordered the implementation of the program last year.

Aside from business establishments, government offices are also urged to secure a safety seal from the DILG.