SAFETY SEAL. Representatives from 13 company-locators at the Mactan Economic Zone (MEZ) in Lapu-Lapu City receive their safety seal certificates from the Department of Labor and Employment in an undated photo. MEZ is the first export processing zone in the entire country to receive several safety seals for its locators, according to DOLE. (Photo courtesy of DOLE-7)
CEBU CITY – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has awarded 13 export companies in Lapu-Lapu City registered with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority-Mactan Economic Zone (PEZA-MEZ) with safety seal certificates.
The economic zone locators were found compliant with the minimum public health standards and have adopted a digital contact tracing application that effectively contains the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), the DOLE in Central Visayas said on Thursday.
Six awardees came from MEZ I that include Feeder Apparel Corp., Feeder Apparel Corp.- FIT (Printing), On Semiconductor Cebu Philippines Inc., Mactan Apparels Inc., Metro Wear Inc., and TMX Philippines Inc.
From MEZ II, the export companies that received safety seal certificates were Delfingen PH-Filipinas Inc., Lear Philippines Engineering Branch, and Matluster Corp.
The other awardees were from the Cebu Light Industrial Park (CLIP): Duck-Il Korea Inc., Global Wear Manufacturing Inc., Teradyne Philippines Ltd., and Vertex One Apparel Philippines Inc.
DOLE-7 Director Salome Siaton said in a statement that PEZA in Mactan is the first export processing zone in the entire country to receive several safety seal certificates.
“This is a good start for the collaboration of DOLE and PEZA and we are looking forward to transforming the whole zone into a safer place, whereby all its locators will finally institutionalize the adoption and implementation of the government’s Safety Seal Program,” Siaton said.
She underscored the gains that the locators will benefit from observing the minimum public health standards.
“Having been issued with a Safety Seal Certificate is a demonstration of the companies’ compliance with the rules and regulations set forth by government. And the certificate, itself, is a marketing tool which will help gain the trust of foreign investors. It will also tell the workers and all other stakeholders that it’s safe to visit and work in and transact with these companies,” she said.
Last June 23, DOLE, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and Department of Tourism (DOT) started awarding safety seal certificates to the following: Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway project by Cebu Link Joint Venture (DOLE); The Marketplace Robinsons Galleria Cebu and Brunos Barbers (DTI); and Bai Hotel (DOT).
Companies covered by DOLE are urged to submit their application for the issuance of a safety seal via online through https://reports.dole.gov.ph or in person and the application shall be assisted by the regional office.
They may also visit ro7.dole.gov.ph and check the department’s safety seal certification process. (PNA)
