SM City malls in Laguna all accoladed the PH’s official Safety Seal

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) led four other government agencies in accolading SM City Santa Rosa, SM City Calamba, and SM City San Pablo with the PH’s official Safety Seal in the province of Laguna.

TOP PHOTO: Santa Rosa City awards its first “Safety Seal “ to SM  City Santa Rosa with (L-R) senior DTI development specialist Christian Ted Tungohan ,  Santa Rosa City mayor Arlene Arcillas, SM Mall Operations South Regions AVP Angel Toreja and SM City Santa Rosa Mall manager Evelyn Verzola

“The safety seal is everything to us because it strengthens our commitment to safe malling and our strict compliance to safety and health protocols set by the government” shared senior assistant vice president for South Mall Operations Engr. John Jason Terrenal.

According to DTI region 4A Director Clarke Nebrao, PH’s Safety Seal is granted to building and establishments that are compliant with the Minimum Public Health Standards (MPHS), including the adoption and use of accredited contact tracing app. He also added that the initiative is part of the government’s efforts to stop the surge of COVID19 while assuring people that the said establishment is safe.

San Pablo City started issuing “Safety Seal” with SM City San Pablo as its first recipient. SM City San Pablo assistant mall managers Edesa Sibug and Ria Katigbak, with Senior DTI development specialist Christian Ted Tungohan, San Pablo mayor Amben Amante and SM Mall Operations South Regions SAVP Engr John Jason Terrenal attended the ceremonial installation of the seal

San Pablo City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officer Vanessa Reyes explained that PH’s Safety Seal certification program is a Joint Memorandum Circular 21-01 (JMC 21-01) signed by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Department of Health (DOH).

Implementing guidelines of the Safety Seal Program requires enforcement of Minimum Public Health Standards (MPHS) such as health declaration and non-contact temperature check on any individual who enters the premises, using of accredited contact tracing app/system, availability of handwashing stations and sanitizers, observance of physical distancing and good ventilation in enclosed areas.

Proper wearing of facemask and faceshields as well as regular disinfection and sanitation of high-touch surfaces are also among other requirements.

After thorough onsite assessment and evaluation, safety seal tags for all SM Malls in Laguna were issued by representatives from the Local Government and Business Permit and Licensing Offices (BPLO) of each town.

“We are happy that all our efforts were recognized. With the ‘Safety Seal,’ we hope to increase people’s confidence in visiting our malls as health, safety, and well-being of our shoppers and employees always remain to be our top priority,” said assistant vice president for Mall Operations South Region Angel Toreja.

SM City Calamba earns its “Safety seal ” a first in the City of Calamba as the mall strictly implements its safety and health protocols under the new normal with (center from the right) Calamba mayor Timmy Chipeco , SM Mall Operations South Regions SAVP Engr John Jason Terrenal,, SM Mall Operations South Regions AVP Angel Toreja (right)

The SM malls in San Pablo, Calamba and Santa Rosa are among the first recipients of Safety Seal in their respective cities in Laguna.

Members of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) have encouraged consumers to patronize business establishments with Safety Seals.

Source: Phil Graphics