Raymundo Agravante, director of the Department of Labor and Employment-Region 12 (Photo courtesy of DOLE-12) GENERAL SANTOS CITY -The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) 12 (Soccsksargen) is targeting to enlist more companies and businesses into its Safety Seal Certification Program. Raymundo Agravante, DOLE-12 director, said at least 10 companies in the region have received safety seals as of Friday and are considered fully compliant with the public health standards in line with the continuing coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. Agravante said five of them are based in this city, three in Polomolok town in South Cotabato, and two in North Cotabato. He said the concerned entities have passed the inspections based on the program's requirements that were set in Joint Memorandum Circular 20-01, series of 2021. The circular was issued by the DOLE, and the departments of health, interior, and trade and industry. The DOLE issues safety seals to companies and establishments that are compliant with the government's minimum health standards and have integrated their contract tracing systems with the StaySafe.ph application. Agravante lauded the compliant companies for helping ensure the safe reopening of the region's economy. He said they are hoping that the concerned entities would continue to enhance their health and safety measures. "The department is hopeful on their continued compliance and that they may set an example to other establishments as safety champions in the region," he said in a statement. Agravante said the safety seals are valid for six months upon their issuance. The compliant companies are Gensan Feedmill, Inc., Dole Philippines, Inc., and Fastruct Design and Construction in Polomolok, South Cotabato; South Cotabato Electric Cooperative II, Multimax Industries Corp., Celebes Canning Corp., Philippine Cinmix Industrial Corp., and Petron Bawing Terminal in this city; and Yaki Herbal Laboratory and Dole Philippines Inc. - Stanfilco Division in Kidapawan City and Makilala, North Cotabato, respectively. The labor department is the issuing authority of the safety seal for manufacturing, construction sites, utilities (electric, water, gas, air conditioning supply, sewerage, and waste management), information and communication companies, and warehouses. (PNA) }