SEN. Mark Villar has called for the swift passage of twin measures that aim to strengthen the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), ease congestion in the National Capital Region and accelerate economic development in the provinces. Speaking during a hearing of the Senate Committee on Government Corporations and Public Enterprises on Feb. 10, Villar said the proposed legislation would unlock the economic potential of former military bases and transform them into growth centers similar to Bonifacio Global City (BGC) in Taguig. “These bills will create development in the countryside. Metro Manila is so congested,” Villar said. “When we pass these bills, these former bases will become major hubs similar to BGC and be a tourist destination as well as an investment hub.” The measures seek to expand BCDA’s capacity to develop and manage state-owned lands by introducing reforms designed to attract long-term investments and generate employment outside the capital. Villar said the initiative aligns with broader government efforts to promote balanced regional development and reduce the over concentration of economic activity in Metro Manila. A key provision allows the conversion of up to 5 percent of BCDA’s economic and freeport zones from leasehold to freehold status. This would enable the sale of selected converted lands for residential purposes, a move Villar said could significantly boost investor interest and development prospects in provincial areas. “It is important to note that the investment it will generate in the countryside is very significant,” Villar said. “This is very important so we can generate additional investment, job opportunities and spur development. So instead of us being focused here in Metro Manila, we can have BGCs in provincial areas.” The BCDA has been instrumental in transforming former military reservations into major economic zones, including Bonifacio Global City, Newport City in Pasay and New Clark City in Tarlac. Villar said replicating these developments in other regions would help create new centers of commerce, tourism and employment. According to Villar, BCDA projects are expected to generate up to 1 million jobs once fully developed, providing a substantial boost to local economies and helping absorb workers amid ongoing labor market pressures. The proposed measures are expected to undergo further committee deliberations before being presented for plenary consideration. Villar expressed confidence that the reforms would contribute to long-term, inclusive growth by bringing investments and opportunities closer to communities outside Metro Manila.

• The Manila Times
• 1 gün, 23 saat, 43 dakika

AUTHORITIES said Wednesday that the MV Trisha Kerstin 3 may have been overloaded when it sank off the coast of Basilan last month, killing dozens of people who received no warning from the ship’s crew. The death toll has risen steadily since the ferry went down off the coast of southwestern Mindanao on Jan. 26, with the body of a woman pulled from the wreckage by divers on Wednesday morning bringing the tally to 52. The triple-decker vessel capsized on nearly the same route where 31 people were killed in a 2023 fire aboard the Lady Mary Joy 3 ferry. Locally based Aleson Shipping Lines owned both ships. Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said MV Trisha Kerstin 3 was allowed to sail despite “glaring safety deficiencies,” including problems in its passenger capacity certification, dry dock and repair compliance, and overall seaworthiness. Lopez said administrative and criminal charges would be filed against the company and several officials of the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). He noted that vehicles boarding the ferry were never weighed as required by law. “One of the possible causes of the sinking of the ship was the possibility of overcapacity and overloading,” Lopez told a news briefing. “The investigation found that rolling cargo like trucks and motorcycles didn’t pass through the weighing station,” he said. “If there was overloading or overcapacity, it’s possible cargo shifted... inside the vessel,” Lopez said, adding it was “highly probable” other ships in the country were sailing overweight. There were also inconsistencies between the official passenger manifest and the actual number of people on board. Reiniel Pascual, an investigator for Marina, separately confirmed passengers had received no instructions from the crew as the ship began to list. “Based on the statements of the crew... there was no alarm or public address that took place during the emergency prior to the sinking and capsizing of the ship,” he said. While at least 368 people were on board at the time of the sinking, a precise tally may never be known as a mismatch between the ferry’s manifest and actual passenger numbers became apparent as more bodies were discovered. Aquino Sajili, a lawyer who survived the sinking, said he expected more bodies to be found by divers now searching the ship, which lies an estimated 76 meters deep. Following its investigation, the Transportation department ordered the relief of eight Marina personnel, including the Zamboanga regional director, and six PCG personnel who conducted the vessel’s predeparture inspection. The PCG Zamboanga station commander was also relieved for command responsibility. Obvious negligence The Philippines has a long history of disasters involving the interisland ferries that ply its seas. Many people rely on cheap and poorly regulated boats and ships for transport between the country’s more than 7,000 islands. Neil Baird, publisher of a worldwide ferry safety database, said on Wednesday that while the Philippines had made huge strides in the past 10 to 15 years, Aleson Shipping’s record was “shocking.” “Ninety-nine percent of so-called accidents are actually human error,” the Baird Maritime founder said. “Obviously, this case is negligence.” “They should never be allowed back into business,” Baird added, noting the recent disclosure of more than 30 maritime “incidents” involving the company since 2019. Sajili, who was in Manila on Wednesday with other survivors to press for government action, said that would be the only just outcome. “To be frank with you, the only time I think we can say we have achieved justice is... [with the] total cancellation of the license of Aleson Shipping Lines,” he said. Calls to the company were unreturned. As part of corrective measures, the Transportation department will issue an order mandating risk-based categorization of vessels and shipping routes to strengthen safety monitoring. Lopez also ordered shipping companies to place life vests under passenger seats for easier access and ensure the availability of inflatable life rafts at all times. “These are short-term, medium-term and long-term measures. We will come out with various policies to ensure this will not happen again,” he said.

• The Manila Times
• 1 gün, 23 saat, 43 dakika

MANILA, Philippines—Things might have unfolded differently for Meralco in its final East Asia Super League (EASL) elimination round game had Rondae Hollis-Jefferson been available, and Justin Brownlee knows it. Brownlee knew what a big asset Meralco lost with Hollis-Jefferson’s injury, and it also robbed fans of a chance to see more of the rivals-turned-teammates together on the floor. “It was very unfortunate. Rondae is obviously a special player just like myself and the rest of the guys,” he said after the Bolts’ 88-79 loss at the hands of the Ryukyu Golden Kings. “What he’s been doing with this team before […]... Keep on reading: EASL: Brownlee laments RHJ injury that cut short their pairing

• Inquirer
• 1 gün, 23 saat, 49 dakika

Jung Eun-woo, a South Korean actor best known for his appearances in “Welcome to Waikiki 2” and “Bride of the Sun,” has died. He was 39 years old. Jung was found dead on Wednesday, February 11, according to a report by Korean media platforms Chosun Daily and Star News. The cause of his death was not disclosed. As his death sparked tributes from colleagues in the entertainment industry, his final Instagram post, dated February 10, caught the attention of netizens, as it notably featured celebrities who had unexpected deaths. The post was a carousel featuring a photo of himself, Amy […]... Keep on reading: ‘Welcome to Waikiki 2’ star Jung Eun-woo dies at 39

• Inquirer
• 2 gün, 19 dakika

BEIJING, China — Growth in China’s consumer prices slowed last month and missed forecasts, official data showed Wednesday, as leaders struggle to kickstart domestic spending in the world’s second-largest economy. The consumer price index, a key measure of inflation, eased to 0.2 percent year-on-year in January, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). That was well down from the 0.8 percent seen in December, which was the quickest in almost three years, and short of the 0.4 percent rise forecast in a Bloomberg survey. Activity in China’s vast economy has stagnated in recent years, despite a historic boom in exports. […]... Keep on reading: China consumer price growth slows in January

• Inquirer
• 2 gün, 25 dakika

MANILA, Philippines — One bettor won the P37.03 million jackpot in the MegaLotto 6/45 draw on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, while the Grand Lotto 6/55 top prize had no winner, according to the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO). The winning combination for MegaLotto 6/45 was 17-15-32-45-40-12, with a jackpot prize of P37.03 million. PCSO said one ticket holder matched all six numbers to claim the top prize. READ: No winners in Tuesday’s, Feb. 10, major lotto draws In Grand Lotto 6/55, no bettor won the P45 million jackpot. The winning numbers were 03-14-25-13-23-22. Minor games • 4D Lotto: 4-2-3-8 – […]... Keep on reading: Lone bettor wins P37.03M MegaLotto jackpot on Feb. 11

• Inquirer
• 2 gün, 34 dakika

Aired (February 11, 2026): Dahil hindi pa din nahuhuli ng mga sindikato si Joey (Jillian Ward) ay napilitan na si Matias (Jonathan Villoso) na ibalita kay Berdugo (Richard Yap) ang kapalpakan na nagawa ni Lisa (Winwyn Marquez). #GMANetwork #GMADrama #Kapuso

• GMA Network
• 2 gün, 36 dakika

Aired (February 11, 2026): Hahalighugin ni Joey (Jillian Ward) ang kanilang buong tahanan upang mahanap ang flash drive na naglalaman ng ebidensya na makakapag linis sa pangalan ng kanyang ama. Mahanap kaya niya ito bago pa mahuli ang lahat? #GMANetwork #GMADrama #Kapuso

• GMA Network
• 2 gün, 37 dakika

Aired (February 11, 2026): Isinailalim na sa kustodiya si Major Delgado (Raymart Santiago) nang matagpuan ang ebidensyang tumutukoy sa kanya bilang suspek sa pagpatay kay Ramon Orbos (Joseph Ison). #GMANetwork #GMADrama #Kapuso

• GMA Network
• 2 gün, 37 dakika

Aired (February 11, 2026): Matapos maaresto si Major Delgado (Raymart Santiago), tila nagkaroon ng panibagong kutob si Andrew (David Licauco) hingil sa kung siya nga ba ay totoong may sala sa mga ibinabintang sa kanya. #GMANetwork #GMADrama #Kapuso

• GMA Network
• 2 gün, 38 dakika

Aired (February 11, 2026): Tuluyan nang inaresto ng kapulisan si Major Delgado (Raymart Santiago) matapos makakita ng ebidensya na nag-uugnay sa kanya sa pagkamatay ni Ramon Orbos (Joseph Ison). Ngunit, totoo nga bang nagkasala siya sa krimeng ibinibintang sa kanya? #GMANetwork #GMADrama #Kapuso

• GMA Network
• 2 gün, 38 dakika

Aired (February 11, 2026): Haharangin ni Joey (Jillian Ward) ang imbestigasyon ng pulisya kay Major Delgado (Raymart Santiago) dahil alam niyang inosente ang kanyang ama sa krimeng ibinibintang rito. #GMANetwork #GMADrama #Kapuso

• GMA Network
• 2 gün, 39 dakika

Aired (February 11, 2026): Major Delgado's (Raymart Santiago) world begins to crumble as new evidence surfaces, tying him to the murder of Ramon Orbos (Joseph Ison) that leads to his arrest. Can Joey (Jillian Ward) clear her father's name, or will he suffer from a crime he never committed? #GMANetwork #GMADrama #Kapuso Walang aatras para sa hustisya at katotohanan! Catch the latest episodes of Never Say Die, airing Monday to Friday at 8:55 PM on GMA Prime! Starring Jillian Ward, David Licauco, Kim Ji Soo, Raheel Bhyria, Richard Yap, Raymart Santiago, Angelu De Leon, Ayen Laurel, Analyn Barro, and Winwyn Marquez! #NeverSayDie For more Never Say Die Full Episodes, click the link below: https://www.youtube.com/playlist? list=PLGRhcC_vtOrbyavzbtYJ61sWoKj3mVmoI

• GMA Network
• 2 gün, 40 dakika

MANILA, Philippines — As the Bangsamoro parliament approved reforms in its electoral code, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has bared the challenges that the poll body may face in preparing for the first Bangsamoro parliamentary elections, which has been postponed anew. Comelec chair George Erwin Garcia on Wednesday said that the passage of the Bangsamoro Autonomy Act (BAA) No. 88 will bring adjustments to their preparations for the elections, such as the removal of the “none of the above” option in ballots, the lowering of vote threshold required for party-list, and scraping of accredited sectoral organizations. In the earlier electoral […]... Keep on reading: Comelec to make adjustments as BARMM parliament revises electoral code

• Inquirer
• 2 gün, 49 dakika

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) on Tuesday welcomed President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s decision to prioritize key education and child welfare and protection measures, including bills on classroom construction, anti-online sexual abuse of children, and expanded education assistance. The measures were among the 21 priority bills approved during the third Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) full meeting of the 20th Congress held at Malacañan Palace. Lawmakers are targeting their passage by June. Among the priority measures identified were the Classroom-Building Acceleration Program (CAP) Act; proposed amendments to the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and […]... Keep on reading: DepEd hails Marcos for prioritizing classroom building, other bills

• Inquirer
• 2 gün, 54 dakika

Senator Migz Zubiri pays tribute to the late Jose de Venecia Jr. (JDV), highlighting his legacy as a consensus builder and international diplomat.

• SunStar Philippines
• 2 gün, 57 dakika