(File photo)
MANILA – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Wednesday said establishments defying health and safety protocols may face revocation of their safety seals and will have their business permit suspended if “repeated violations” will be found amid the threat of the Covid-19.
DILG Undersecretary and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya made this remark after numerous violations of the operational capacity limit and failure to implement the fully vaccinated requirement inside the establishments like restaurants, amusement parks, recreational venues, fitness studios, and gyms, among others.
Malaya said he personally observed establishments disregarding minimum public health standards and other guidelines under the alert level system.
“Many restaurants and indoor establishments are not checking the vaccination status of their customers and are violating the 50 percent operational capacity for indoor establishments and 70 percent operational capacity of outdoor establishments,” Malaya said during a Laging Handa briefing on Wednesday.
“We cannot be complacent at this time. Even if cases are going down and vaccination is going up, we cannot put our guard down. Look at Europe, their vaccination rate is high but they are now undergoing a new surge. Vigilance will prevent another surge,” Malaya said.
The safety seal program is an inter-agency initiative by the DILG, the Department of Health, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Labor and Employment, and the Department of Tourism.
The safety seal should be conspicuously displayed indicating that public and private establishments or buildings are compliant with health protocols against Covid-19.
“Sa mga establisyimento pong mapapatunayang hindi sumusunod sa mga polisiyang ito ay puwede pong ma-revoke ang kanilang safety seal. ‘Pag na-revoke po ang safety seal na ibinigay sa inyo ng issuing authority ay mawawala po ‘yung inyong additional 10 percent additional capacity, operational capacity; at kung mayroon pong tinatawag na repeated violations ay ang DILG na po mismo ang magrirekomenda ng suspensiyon ng inyong business permit,” (For the establishments found not complying these policies may face revocation of their safety seal. If revoked, they will lose additional 10 percent capacity, operational capacity; and there are repeated violations, the DILG itself will recommend the suspension of your business permit,” Malaya warned.
Malaya said all local government units and the Philippine National Police should conduct more inspections of establishments to ensure compliance with Covid-19 guidelines and for the LGUs to issue show cause orders against the violators.
He also urged the public to report violations of health and safety protocols.
Malaya said DILG Secretary Eduardo Año has directed the LGUs to craft ordinances that would set limits on minors allowed in public places like malls and some establishments to avoid Covid-19 transmission.
He said the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority has created a technical working group to scrutinize the current policy on allowing children outside.
Citing as an example, Malaya said Parañaque City has pending executive order that would allow only 12 to 17 years old children inside malls, shopping centers, and similar establishments provided they are accompanied by fully vaccinated adults.
Parañaque City government also seeks to allow 11 years old and below only in outdoor or alfresco areas accompanied by fully vaccinated adults. (PNA)
