• All establishments inside ports under the Philippine Ports Authority are now required to secure Safety Seal Certification in compliance with the government’s initiative to safely reopen the economy
• These establishments include passenger terminal buildings, offices, and facilities operated by authorized private entities within PPA ports
All establishments inside ports under the jurisdiction of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) are now required to secure Safety Seal Certification (SSC) in compliance with the government’s initiative to safely reopen the economy.
The requirement aims to assure the public that the establishments are complying with minimum public health standards and are safe for use, according to PPA Administrative Order (AO) No. 10-2021. The order took effect on December 20.
AO 10-2021 is also in compliance with Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2021-01, signed by the departments of trade and industry, labor and employment, tourism, interior and local government, and health, and provides implementing guidelines for the SSC program.
The SSC program refers to a certification scheme affirming that an establishment or public transportation unit has been inspected by the government and found compliant with minimum public health standards, and that it is using StaySafe.ph—the official digital contact tracing application of the government—or that its contact tracing is integrated with StaySafe.ph.
Moreover, the certification affirms that the establishment or public transportation unit possesses the requisite business permits or franchise.
Establishments covered by the certification program include passenger terminal buildings, offices, and facilities operated by private entities within PPA ports with authority from the ports authority.
To be eligible for issuance of SSC, establishments must implement standard operating procedure and practice, designate a safety officer or authorized representative in charge, comply with facility requirements, and use contact tracing apps.
Operators of establishments or their authorized representatives should apply online or to PPA offices directly for the SSC.
Upon approval of the application, the applicant should place the issued Safety Seal sticker in a strategic area of the establishment visible to the public.
The SSC is valid for one year from the date of issuance and is renewable not earlier than one month or 30 days before its expiration.
PPA under AO 10-2021 also creates a PPA Safety Committee composed of the COVID-19 Response Emergency Team and which will oversee and monitor implementation of the SSC program.
A PPA Inspection Team will be created to inspect, check, assess and evaluate completeness of the requirements of the applicant.
In case an establishment is found to be deficient or to have violated provisions of AO 10-2021, the PPA Inspection Team will recommend corrective actions, which should be implemented within 48 hours.
During the corrective action period, the Team may recommend to the PPA Safety Seal Committee to deny the establishment from operating until it has completed the corrective action. Failure to do this will be ground for revoking the establishment’s SSC. The SSC may be reinstated following certain requisites under AO 10-2021.
