Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Monday, February 12, 2024.

Today's episode is brought to you by Wilcon Depot, The Philippines' leading home improvement and construction supplies retailer—your Trusted Building Partner.

READ: Chinese vessels block PH ship

THE Philippine Coast Guard on Sunday accused Chinese vessels of "dangerous" maneuvers during a nine-day patrol near a reef off the coast of the country. The Philippine vessel B.R.P. Teresa Magbanua was deployed in early February to patrol the waters around Scarborough Shoal, a rich fishing ground in the South China Sea, deliver provisions to Filipino fishermen, and ensure their safety. The reef has been a flashpoint between the countries since China seized it from the Philippines in 2012. Since then, Beijing has deployed patrol boats that Manila says harass Philippine vessels and prevent Filipino fishermen from reaching the lagoon where fish are more plentiful.

READ: Palace silent on SMNI's appeal

SONSHINE Media Network International said its appeal to Malacañang to reconsider the suspension of its two programs remained unanswered. The network has appealed before the Office of the President the suspension of two of its programs — "Laban Kasama Ang Bayan" and "Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa." SMNI earlier filed a motion for reconsideration before the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board but was denied.

READ: Registration of voters resumes

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) said the registration of voters for the two scheduled elections in 2025 will resume today, Monday, February 12. It will also launch nationwide its register anywhere program (RAP), which will make voters' registration easier and more accessible. The poll body tapped 166 malls for the program. Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia will personally lead registration activities in the island municipality of Kalayaan.

READ: Foreign chambers to attend Cha-cha hearing

THE Joint Foreign Chambers in the Philippines, representing over 3,000 firms, will share on Monday its stand on the proposal to amend the 1987 Constitution as the Senate continues to hold hearings on the issue. Sen. Juan Edgardo "Sonny" Angara, chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes, will resume on Monday the public hearing on Resolution of Both Houses 6 to amend supposed "restrictive" economic provisions of the Constitution.

BUSINESS: Key rates likely to stay unchanged – analysts

Headlining business, key interest rates will stay on hold this Thursday given a lack of urgency to adjust policy, analysts polled by The Manila Times said. Economic growth, while below target last year, remains strong even as inflation has yet to stabilize, they noted. Gross domestic product expanded by 5.6 percent in 2023, missing the government's 6.0- to 7.0-percent goal but still one of the fastest in the region. Inflation, meanwhile, has stayed within the 2.0- to 4.0-percent target for the last two months — it fell to 2.8 percent in January — but could again spike due to the impact of El Niño on food prices. This upside risk has prompted the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to remain hawkish and a rate hike, if needed, is expected not to harm the economy given its relative strength. The central bank's benchmark rate currently stands at 6.5 percent, the highest since 2007, following 450 basis points of rate hikes beginning May 2022 as inflation started surging.

SPORTS: Cone: Gilas to fight for Olympic spot

Over to sports, qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics is Gilas Pilipinas' ultimate goal under new permanent head coach Tim Cone. Cone himself said that the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas' plan is for Gilas to make the FIBA World Cup in Qatar come 2027 and have the Philippines finish as the best Asian team, which then merits an outright berth to the L.A. Games. It was something that Gilas could not pull off in the World Cup edition last year with that Asian slot to the Paris Olympics being gifted to Japan for being the Asian team with the best record in the tournament.

READ: Opinion and editorial

Rigoberto Tiglao, Fr. Ranhilio Aquino, and Francisco Tatad are today's front page columnists. Tiglao hits out at two government officials over their comments on Mindanao secession, Fr. Aquino shares about San Beda University, while Tatad talks about the decline of parliamentary manners.

Today's editorial thinks the last window for peace in Gaza is closing fast. Read the full version in the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.

For more news and information, read The Manila Times on print, subscribe to its digital edition or log on to www.manilatimes.net. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and LinkedIn; and be part of our communities on Viber, Telegram, and Mastodon.