Retailers in the New Normal

 Considering the many challenges we have to surmount, I know it has not been an easy adjustment for retailers to the new normal.

The COVID-19 global pandemic is by far considered the most extreme form of business disruption that Philippine enterprises have ever faced.

With most brick-and-mortar stores forced to close down during the enhanced community quarantine, retailers were pushed to rethink their business strategies and adopt e-commerce platforms to continue their operations today.

Given these changes, we have seen many businesses who were forced to change their operating models to adapt to the situation.

Gone are the days when retailers were simply able to operate as normal. We’re now living in a new age.  Retail has been asked to step up in ways it has not had to before. Retailers have now had to incorporate words like face masks, face shields and social-distancing into their company vernacular. From e-commerce and reopening plans to hiring and leadership, the actions of retailers are under a microscope as consumers are paying attention closer now more than ever .

For business to survive in this extreme situation we are living in, we certainly need everyone’s smarts. So, other than inviting relevant NGAs, we gathered retailers to a forum those who are willing to share their knowledge and expertise to fellow retailers.

The Philippine government is using this forum to also focus on improving health protocols in establishments to benefit our people beyond COVID-19, as well as prepare for future public health emergencies. 

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Central Visayas, along with the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and Department of Tourism (DOT), has been conducting a public information drive on the safety seal certification program.

As underscored in the DOLE-DOH-DILG-DOT-DTI JOINT MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 21-01 series of 2021, the Philippine government wants to assure consumers and the public in general of establishments’ compliance with the minimum public health standards set by the government. 

Note that the  Safety Seal is renewable subject to continued compliance with the eligibility requirements.

Not all applications for Safety Seal are automatically approved as the agency concerned has to do a physical inspection to ensure that the business establishment complies with the minimum health protocols, which include proper ventilation in the establishment.

I want to point out the jurisdiction of each government agency under the joint MC implementing guidelines on safety seal certification program.

Establishments that are covered by DTI are groceries, supermarkets, membership shopping clubs, convenience stores, construction supply and hardware stores, outlets of logistics service providers, barbershops and salons, and service and repair shops.

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Two of the establishments that were awarded the Safety Seal Certificate : Bruno’s Barbers and Robinson’s Supermarket.

Tourism-related establishments like hotels, resorts, apartment hotels, other accredited accommodation establishments, travel and tours services, meetings, incentives, conferences, and events (MICE) venues and facilities, and restaurants inside hotels and resorts can apply for their Safety Seal certificate with the Department of Tourism.

Manufacturing, construction sites, utilities, information and communication companies, and warehouses are covered by the Department of Labor and Employment.

Malls, wet markets, other retail stores, restaurants outside hotels and resorts, fast food, eateries, coffee shops, banks, money changers, pawnshops, remittance centers, car wash, laundry service centers, art galleries, libraries, museums, zoo, sports centers, tutorial, testing, review centers, gyms, spas, cinemas, arcades, and all other private establishments are covered by local government units.

Establishments with safety seal are expected to strictly implement proper wearing of face masks, good ventilation, disinfection, and using the contact tracing system of StaySafe.ph to maintain the good housekeeping badge.

Workplaces, malls, groceries, salons, barbershops and places of gathering .vary greatly in how much risk they pose to people. Many establishments are putting features in place that allow for physical distancing and minimizing contact with high-touch objects. 

In this new normal times you can never be too cautious when it comes to safety.#