Republic of the Philippines

OFFICE OF THE CITY MAYOR

Gingoog City

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. __

Series of 2021

CREATING THE INSPECTION AND CERTIFICATION TEAM OF THE CITY OF

GINGOOG, ITS COMPOSITION AND FUNCTION, IN COMPLIANCE TO JOINT
MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 21-01, SERIES OF 2021, ISSUED BY DOLE-DOH-DILG-
DOT-DTI

WHEREAS, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte issued Presidential Proclamation 1021

extending the State of Calamity in the country until September 12, 2021 due to COVID-19
pandemic;

WHEREAS, Section 15 of Article II of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provides that “(t)he
State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health
consciousness among them”;

WHEREAS, the presence of new variants of SARS-CoV-2 are believed to be one of the
major factors affecting the surge in cases of COVID-19 in the country;

WHEREAS, as the covid-19 pandemic continues more than a year after it began, the need
to open more business establishments to spur economic activity and generate growth
becomes urgently imperative;

WHEREAS, the Department of Labor and Employment, the Department of Health, the
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Tourism (DOT),
and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), issued Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC)
No. 21-01, Series of 2021, dated 23 April 2021, entitled “Implementing Guidelines of the
Safety Seal Certification Program;

WHEREAS, the City Government of Gingoog has deemed it necessary to adopt the Safety
Seal Certification Program to ensure that health and safety protocol are implemented, as
part of the “new normal” in the conduct of business and trade in the City of Gingoog, with the
end view of protecting the public from COVID-19 and assure them of the compliance of
business establishments with the Minimum Public Health Standard (MPHS) set by the
government.

WHEREAS, as more businesses are now slated to open to boost the economy, especially in
the event that quarantine classifications are downgraded anew, the Safety Seal Certification
Program is a best practice program to boost consumer confidence in businesses;

WHEREAS, DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2021-053, dated 12 May 2021, has for its
subject the “Implementing Guidelines of the Safety Seal Certification Program for this
Department and the Local Government Units as Issuing Authorities;

WHEREAS, the foregoing provides the creation of the LGU Inspection and Certification
Teams;

NOW, THEREFORE, I ERICK G. CAÑOSA, City Mayor of Gingoog City, by virtue of the
powers vested in me by law, do hereby order the creation of the Inspection and Certification
Team of Gingoog City for purposes of ascertaining compliance and Inspection of business
establishments to Minimum Public Health Standards (MPHS) and of issuing certificates and
seal as proof thereof, to wit:

Section 1. Composition

The Inspection and Certification Team (ICT) of Gingoog City shall be composed of the
following individuals, with their respective designations, namely:

Chairperson : ELVIN Y. RESTITUTO

City Administrator

Members : MS. JULIET Q. GARRIDO

OIC - Business Permits & Licensing Division

DR. GRACE J. JADOL

City Health Officer

MR. MARLON E. PAJO

CDRRM Officer

MS. LINDY P. VALDEVILLA

Local Economic & Investment Promotion Officer

MR. AUDIE CORNELIO S. OCAMPO

City Tourism Officer

MS. FARAH A. CABALLES

OIC - City Information Office

PLTCOL. ARIEL PHILIP I. PONTILLAS

City Chief of Police

FCINSP. CRISTINO T. BANAC

City Fire Marshall

Membership in the ICT is a function of the office which the individual occupies. As such, the
resignation, removal, termination, transfer, severe illness or incapacity, death or any
similarly-situated circumstance, shall entitle the successor thereof to assume inclusion in the
composition without the need for the issuance of another instrument.

Moreover, the City Mayor may, at his discretion, include other individuals in the composition
of the ICT.

Section 2. Scope of Authority

The following business establishments shall be under the scope of authority of the ICT of
Gingoog City, pursuant to DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2021-053, namely:

a) Malls;
b) Wet Markets;
c) Retail stores, excluding Groceries and Supermarkets, Convenience
Stores;
d) Restaurants, not located on hotels and resorts;
e) Fast food establishments, Eateries, Coffee Shops, Cafes;
f) Banks, Money Changers, Pawnshops, Remittances Centers;
g) Car Wash;
 h) Laundry Service Centers;
i) Art Galleries, Libraries, Museums, Zoos;
j) Tutorial, Testing and Review Centers;
k) Sports Center;
l) Gyms and Fitness Centers;
m) Spas, excluding Beauty Salons and Barbershops;
n) Cinemas;
o) Arcades
p) All Other Private Establishments not covered by the other Issuing
Agencies.

Section 3. Functions

The ICT of Gingoog City shall perform the following functions, namely:

a) Create as many Inspection Teams, as may be necessary, depending on the number

of business establishments, mentioned in the preceding paragraph;

b) Ensure that the business establishments meet and comply to all eligibility
requirements as provided under Section 1 of JMC Memorandum Circular No. 21-01;

c) Develop, with the help of the Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO), the City
Health Office (CHO), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG),
Gingoog Field Office, and other concerned offices, the checklists that shall
enumerate the eligibility requirements in an easy-to-understand format, including the
provision thereof in Filipino;

d) Enforce the Certification Procedures outlined in Section 4 of JMC Memorandum

Circular No. 21-01;

e) Establish, if necessary, a microsite, or a dedicated section in the official website of

the City of Gingoog, which shall contain the following information, namely:

i. Implementing Guidelines of the Safety Seal Certification Program;

ii. Checklist for the Type of Establishments Covered by the City of Gingoog
(Refer to Section 2 hereof);
iii. Downloadable Safety Seal Toolkit;
iv. List of All Establishments Issued with Safety Seal, including the Status,
whether Active, Revoked, or Reinstated;
v. Complaint Hotlines;
vi. Request form for Reassessment or Reinstatement of Safety Seal;

f) Grant the Safety Seal to successfully compliant business establishments. The design
and format of the Safety Seal shall be in accordance with the Official Safety Seal
Design issued by the DILG. No Safety Seal shall be awarded without a valid
business permit issued to the business establishment concerned;

g) Exercise the right to order the suspension of operations of the business

establishment, if any violation of minimum health standards is found and until
corrective actions have been undertaken;

h) Enforce the following, in accordance with JMC Memorandum Circular No. 21-01,
namely:

i. Complaints Handling, under Rule IV, including the installation of a dedicated

hotline to receive inquiries, complaints and similarly-situated concerns, and
 the referral to the appropriate Issuing Authority should the concern emanate
from an establishment not included in Section 2 hereof; and
ii. Renewal, Revocation Reinstatement, under Rule V;

i) Prepare a Record of the Business Establishments awarded with the Safety Seal, and
post the list in the microsite mentioned in Section 3 (e) for transparency purposes;

j) Submit periodic reports, which shall include, but not limited to, the number and nature
of business establishments awarded the Safety Seal, the number and nature of the
complaints and concerns received, the number and the reasons for decisions for
reinstatement, among others;

Section 4. The Safety Seal

The Safety Seal affirms that an establishment has been found compliant with the minimum
public health standards set by the government, including the adoption or integration with the
StaySafe.ph in contact tracing application. The seal shall be displayed conspicuously at all
entrance points according to prescribed dimensions. Obtaining the Safety Seal shall be at no
cost to the establishment.

Section 5. Validity

The Safety Seal shall be valid for six (6) months from the date of issuance, except for those
issued to tourism enterprises which shall be valid for one (1) year. The Safety Seal shall be
renewable subject to continued compliance with the eligibility requirements set forth herein.

Section 6. Security Measures

The Safety Seal shall indicate the Issuing Authority, Date of Issuance, and Safety Seal
Number and must be verifiable with the Issuing Authority. Other security measures may also
be introduced. The ICT shall keep a record of establishments issued with the Safety Seal.

Section 7. Eligibility and Certification Process

A. Eligibility

The following are the eligibility requirements to qualify for the Safety Seal certification:

1. Compliance with registration or accreditation requirements (e.g., Mayor’s permit,

DTI/SEC registration, or DOT accreditation);

2. Use of StaySafe.ph or any contact tracing tool integrated with the same;

3. Enforcement of the Minimum Public Health Standards (MPHS), including the

following, as applicable:

a. Putting up of Screening or Triage Area at different points-of-entry where:

i. Employees submit health declaration and/or symptoms are assessed;

ii. Non-contact temperature check is performed to all employees, customers,

and any individuals who enter the premises;

iii. Customers and other individuals who enter the premises are asked to
register with StaySafe.ph
 iv. As applicable, an isolation area shall be installed for symptomatic
employees and once identified as a suspect COVID-19 case shall be
reported to the City Health Office or Barangay Health and Emergency
Response Team (BHERT) immediately for proper observance of COVID-
19 protocols;

b. Availability of handwashing stations, soap, and sanitizers, and hand drying

equipment or supplies (e.g., single use paper towel) to employees and
clients/visitors which are placed in strategic locations in the establishment;

c. Observance of physical distancing and spacing through installation of

physical barriers in enclosed areas where physical distancing may be
compromised, i.e., blocking off of chairs, use of markers or stickers on the
floor for spacing;

d. Ensure adequate air exchange in enclosed (indoor) areas as cited in DOLE

Department Order No. 224-21 or the Guidelines on Ventilation for Workplaces
and Public Transport to Prevent and Control the Spread of COVID-19;

e. Compliance to disinfection protocol in accordance with DOH Department

Memorandum No. 2020-0157 and 0157-A or the “Guidelines on Cleaning and
Disinfection in Various Settings as an Infection Prevention and Control
Measure Against COVID-19 and Cleaning and Disinfection of Environmental
Surfaces in the Context of COVID-19 by World Health Organization (WHO);

i. Regular sanitization of chairs, desks, tables, counters, pens, doorknobs,

equipment, devices, workstations, comfort rooms, and other high-touch
surfaces;

f. Wearing of facemasks, face shields, especially in enclosed places and

wearing of other protective outer garments as warranted;

g. Establishment of a referral system for medical and psychosocial services;

h. Designation of Safety Officer who shall:

i. coordinate with the appropriate bodies for support and referral to

community-based isolation facilities for confirmed cases with mild
symptoms, and to health facilities for severe and critical care;
ii. undertake contact tracing to coordinate the conduct thereof and implement
return to work policies;
iii. monitor status of employees quarantined or isolated; and
iv. implement return to work policies

i. Facility for proper storage, collection, treatment, and disposal of used

facemasks and other infectious waste;

j. Other health and safety measures issued or to be issued from time to time by
the City Health Office;

B. Certification Procedures

1. By Application
a. The owner or authorized representative of the business establishment shall
download from the website of the City Government of Gingoog or secure from
 the Office of the City Mayor - Business and Licensing Division (CMO-BPLD)
the appropriate checklist and perform self-assessment.

b. If self-assessment is favorable, the owner or authorized representative of the

business establishment shall then contact the CMO-BPLD, through available
hotlines, to schedule an inspection.

c. The LGU shall validate the status or validity of government-issued permits

and/or accreditation.

d. If found to be with valid government-issued permits, registration, and/or

accreditation, the LGU may proceed with the inspection.

e. The LGU shall inspect compliance of the business establishment. The PNP
shall join the inspections upon the request of the LGU especially in inspecting
places open to the public.

f. After the inspection, the inspector/inspection team shall inform the owner or
authorized representative of the result of inspection and next steps.

i. If the business establishment is compliant, the owner or authorized

representative shall be informed or how the Safety Seal sticker will be
provided.

ii. If the business establishment is found lacking in any of the eligibility criteria,
the owner or authorized representative shall be advised to correct the
deficiencies and apply for reassessment.

2. By Visit (From Regular Monitoring)

a. During regular monitoring, the inspection team shall also check whether the
business establishment is eligible to the Safety Seal certification

b. Upon determination of compliance with the Safety Seal certification, the

inspection team shall inform the owner or authorized representative of the
establishment’s eligibility and how the Safety Seal sticker will be obtained

c. If deficiency/ies is/are found, the owner or authorized representative shall be

advised to correct the deficiencies and apply for reassessment.

Section 8. Renewal, Revocation Reinstatement

a) Renewal

The Safety Seal may be renewed not earlier than one (1) month before its expiration. To
renew:

1. Establishments shall contact the LGU to schedule inspection.

2. The LGU shall inspect the establishment to verify continued compliance with the
eligibility requirements.

3. If the establishment is found to be fully compliant, the LGU shall issue a new Safety
Seal.
4. If the establishment is found to have deficiencies, the owner or authorized
representative shall be advised to correct the deficiencies within and apply for
reassessment.

b) Revocation

1. The Safety Seal may be revoked motu proprio by the LGU or through a valid
complaint. The complaint must state:

a) name and location of the establishment,

b) particular public health standard violated or a substantial description thereof;
c) name and contact number of complaint/s;
d) supporting proof (e.g., photos)

2. Upon receipt or referral of a valid complaint, the LGU shall conduct a surprise
inspection on the complained establishment. The LGU may also conduct a surprise
inspection, motu proprio, for the purpose of revoking the Safety Seal when:

a) a clustering of COVID-19 cases has been reported in an establishment

b) willful violation of any of the minimum public health standards

3. Should be business establishment granted with the Safety Seal be found non-
complaint with any of the minimum public health standards and the use of the Stay
Safe application:

a) A Notice to Explain (NTE) shall be issued by the ICT

b) The NTE should be answered within forty-eight (48) hours and submitted to the
ICT. Alternatively, the business establishment may opt to comply within the same
period and attach proof of compliance with the NTE.
c) Should the explanation be found lacking or should the business establishment fail
to comply, the Safety Seal shall be recalled by the LGU.

d) Effect of Revocation

Revocation of the Safety Seal Certification shall not automatically result in the
suspension of operations.

In case the violation pertains to any of the minimum public health standards, the
business establishment shall be given another forty-eight (48) hours from the time the
Safety Seal is revoked to implement corrective actions. If after this period the
establishment still fails to correct the deficiency, suspension of operations may be
ordered by the City until corrective actions have been implemented.

e) Reinstatement

Establishment with revoked Safety Seal may have the same reinstated in accordance
with the following:

1. Submission to the LGU of a request for reinstatement completes with proof of full
compliance with the minimum public health standards and the installation of the Stay
Safe digital contact tracing application.

Conduct of an inspection by the LGU to verify compliance. Reinstated Safety Seal shall
be valid for six (6) months or one (1) year, in the case of tourism enterprises, from the
date of reinstatement
Section 9. Monitoring and Enforcement

The monitoring and enforcement of the above guidelines shall be done by the ICT of
Gingoog City, and may issue additional guidelines as may be necessary from time to time;

Section 10. Separability Clause.

In the event any provision herein found is administratively declared infirm or judicially
decided illegal, untouched provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

Section 11. Effectivity Clause.

This Executive Order shall take effect immediately and will remain in effect until the state of
public health emergency is lifted, subject to changes as may be instructed/issued by the
undersigned.

DONE AND EXECUTED on this _____ day of ___________ 2021 in the City of Gingoog.

ERICK G. CAÑOSA
City Mayor

TOGETHER, WE CAN UNITE

Ground Flr., City Hall Bldg., F. Dugenio St., Gingoog City
Website: www.gingoogcitygov.ph Landline: (08842) 7650/7884 Email: [email protected]