DOLE Releases Guidelines on the Processing and Issuance of Permit to Operate and Certificate Electrical Inspection to the Regional Offices

On 20 September 2022, the Department of Labor and Employment (“DOLE”) issued Labor Advisory No. 19, series of 2022 to facilitate the issuance of Permit to Operate for mechanical equipment and Certificate of Electrical Inspection for electrical wiring installation. The guidelines are as follows:

Application and Requirements

The application for the following shall be submitted to the DOLE Regional Office (“RO”) having jurisdiction over the fabricator’s business address or the place where the equipment will be installed:

1. Clearing of technical plans for the installation of boilers, pressure vessels, internal combustion engines, turbines, cranes and hoists, power piping lines, elevators, dumbwaiters, manlift, and other related mechanical equipment as may be determined in the occupational safety and health standards and other related issuances;
2. Clearing of fabrication plans for locally fabricated boilers and pressure vessels; and
3. Clearing of technical plans for electrical wiring installation. 

The application forms and checklist of documentary requirements can be downloaded from the website of Bureau of Working Conditions and/or DOLE RO. 

Technical Safety Inspection (“TSI”) 

The applicant may proceed with the mechanical equipment and/or electrical wiring installation upon receipt of the cleared installation plans. Thereafter, the applicant shall request in writing to the concerned DOLE RO the conduct of TSI. The date of the conduct of the TSI shall be agreed upon by the DOLE RO and the applicant. 

Certificate of Appearance (“CA”)

The CA shall be issued free of charge after appearing before the DOLE Regional Director or duly authorized and designated Field/Provincial Head and completing the orientation on the requirements for the clearing of technical plans. The CA shall be coterminous with the validity of the applicant’s Professional Regulation Commission license at the time of appearance. The CA shall be automatically revoked if the application signed by the Professional Mechanical Engineer, or the Professional Electrical Engineer is disapproved three (3) times.