Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia awards the city’s first Certificate of Safety Seal to SM City Bacolod yesterday.

Joining the mayor were Councilor Carl Lopez and Bacolod Investment Board executive director George Zulueta.

Representing SM City were mall manager George Jardiolin and assistant mall manager Julia Javellana.

Other awardees were Ayala Malls Capitol Central, Jollibee SM branch, Jollibee Lacson branch, McDonald’s Lacson branch, and Teleperformance.

Stella Rose Rayos, chair of the city’s Safety Seal Committee, said only business establishments with valid Mayor’s Permit (2021) are eligible to apply for a certificate of Safety Seal.

Those who are awarded with a Safety Seal certificate shall be allowed an additional 10% beyond the prescribed on-site capacity as per IATF Resolution no. 127-A series of 2021, she added.

The Safety Seal Certification Program (SSCP) is a certification scheme affirming that an establishment or public transportation unit has been inspected by the government and was found compliant with Minimum Public Health Standards (MPHS), is using or its contact tracing is integrated with StaySafe.ph, and the establishment or public transportation unit possesses the requisite business permits or franchise.

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases adopted StaySafe.ph as the official digital contact tracing application of the government, and the institution of a SSCP to ensure compliance with MPHS especially in business establishments and major public places, in order to contain the spread of COVID-19 and prevent future surges./WDJ