TWO business groups are pointing out why granular lockdowns –and not the broader quarantine measures – should be adopted by the government to fight COVID-19 in the country.

Through granular lockdowns and other measures such as vaccination rollout, and Prevention-Detect-Isolate-Trace-Reintegrate or PDITR strategy, the country can avoid recurring surges and broad lockdowns.

MBC said it supports reopening the economy with science-backed policies so more Filipinos can work and take care of their families.

The private sector stands ready to help the national and local government to craft measures that will allow the safe reopening of the economy.

It also complements the government’s efforts to vaccinate Filipinos to achieve population protection.

Filipinos are frustrated and getting desperate. They need to get more and more people safely back to work, the group said.

On the other hand, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry reiterated that granular lockdowns will have positive implications on businesses than the regular community quarantine measures.

The group also expressed dismay on the deferment of the granular lockdown in the National Capital Region.

It said authorities must be prudent in prematurely announcing half-studied policies or policy shifts as they have a tremendous impact on business operations and people’s daily lives.

The PCCI earlier said the business group hoped for the safe full reopening of the economy when population protection has been achieved.

We must adopt granular lockdowns now.

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More people in Bulacan are finally set to gain access to affordable and reliable potable water supply.

This developed after San Miguel Corporation formalized agreements recently with seven water districts in the province, to be covered by Stage 3 of its Bulacan Bulk Water Supply Project or BBWSP.

These include the towns of Norzagaray, Hagonoy, Pandi, Baliwag, San Rafael, San Miguel, and San Ildefonso earlier this year.

SMC is targeting start of operations by January 2023. With these agreements signed with the seven water districts, and with the MWSS having approved the updated business plan, it can now start preliminary engineering design, and then construction.

For decades, many households in Bulacan relied on deep wells that tapped into groundwater sources, despite the province’s close proximity to Angat Dam.

Apart from poor water quality, the depletion of groundwater has also contributed to land subsidence and flooding all over Bulacan.

Currently, BBWSP supplies water to 13 areas, covered by Stage 1 and 2 development of the facility, which started commercial operations last January 2019.

These include San Jose del Monte, Marilao, Meycauayan, Bocaue, Obando and Balagtas, Guiguinto, Calumpit, Bulakan, Plaridel, Sta. Maria, Paombong, and Malolos.

Apart from the additional seven towns that will soon gain access to water, four other water districts remain: Pulilan, Angat, Dona Remedios Trinidad, and Bustos. SMC hopes to forge agreements these water districts soon.

The BBWSP is public-private partnership (PPP) project of Luzon Clean Water Development Corporation (LCWDC) and K-Water Resources Corporation consortium, with the MWSS.

LCWDC is responsible for the financing, construction, operations, and maintenance of the three project stages.

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