'THANK YOU, NEXT': TRUMP FINE WITH ENDING DEFENSE PACT WITH PHILIPPINESMANILA - Contrary to his Defense chief's earlier remarks, US PresidentDonald Trump admitted that he does not mind the Philippines terminating itsVisiting Forces Agreement with the US.Manila announced its decision Tuesday -- a move the US embassy in thePhilippines called a "serious step" -- touching off a six-month countdown tothe end of the deal.US Defense Secretary Mark Esper earlier said the decision of the Philippinesto end the defense pact was a "move in the wrong direction."Trump, however, views this move of President Rodrigo Duterte differently."I never minded that very much, to be honest," Trump told reportersWednesday.The transcript of his remarks are uploaded on the official website of theWhite House.Noting that the US helped the Philippines in its campaign againstISIS-inspired militants in Marawi City in 2017, Trump said the two countrieshave a "very good relationship there.""But I - I really don't mind. If they would like to do that, that's fine.We'll save a lot of money," Trump said."You know, my views are different than other people. I view it as, 'Thankyou very much. We save a lot of money,'" he added.Trump continued to claim that US troops "came in" and "literally,single-handedly" saved the Philippines from the attacks of terrorists inMarawi City almost three years ago.The American president also noted that he has a good relationship withDuterte."And my relationship, as you know, is a very good one with their leader.And we'll see what happens. They'll have to tell me that," Trump said.The pact's termination will take effect after 180 days.PHILIPPINES CHECKS 'RISK' OF LIFTING TAIWAN TRAVEL BANMANILA -- The Philippines is checking the "risk" of potentially lifting atravel ban on Taiwan, imposed to contain a coronavirus outbreak from China,Manila's health minister said Thursday.A Philippine inter-agency task force will meet Friday about possibly liftingthe ban, based on the spike of new coronavirus cases in Taiwan and itsprotocol for screening travelers from China, Health Secretary FranciscoDuque III said.This, after authorities received reports of proposals for Taiwan toretaliate against the ban by scrapping visa-free entry for Filipinos."Iyang mga iyan ay atin talagang susuriing maigi para nakakasiguro tayo nakung mayroon mang risk, hindi ganoon kalaki iyong risk. Baka naman puwedengmaialis natin doon sa ban ang Taiwan," he told DZMM.Aside from Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory, Manila banned allinbound travel from China and its special administrative regions Macau andHong Kong.Taiwan has confirmed 18 cases of the novel coronavirus that has killed atleast 1,100 and infected some 44,000, mostly in China.16 SENATORS SIGN COMMITTEE REPORT ON LEGALIZING MOTORCYCLE TAXISMANILA - Majority of the senators signed a joint committee report on thebill allowing the use of motorcycles as public utility vehicles.Sixteen senators signed the report of the Senate's Public Services and LocalGovernment panels, which recommended the approval of the Motorycles-for-HireAct.The proposed legislation, which seeks to amend a provision of the LandTransportation and Traffic Code, classifies motorcycle taxis as among thePUVs regulated by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board."We are inching closer to having a law that will make motorcycle taxis apart of our public transportation system," Poe, head of the Public Servicescommittee, said.The bill defines motorcycles-for-hire as any two-wheeled motor vehicleregistered with the Land Transportation Office, which transports passengersand goods and which may utilize online ride hailing or pre-arrangedtransportation platforms.Motorcycle taxis should weigh less than 1,000 kilograms, be able to travelfaster than 50 kilometers per hour, and have a minimum engine displacementof 125 cubic centimeters, and a backbone-type built.This excludes underbone motorcycles, which are common in the Philippines.The bill would still need to hurdle second and third reading approvals inthe Senate.The House of Representatives must also pass their version of the proposedlegislation. Bills on motorcycle taxis at the lower chamber remain pendingwith the committee on transportation.TERM DEPOSIT RATES DROP SHARPLYMANILA - Term deposits rates fell sharply yesterday, dropping below fourpercent across the board as the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) isexpected to further slash key interest rates.The seven-day term deposits fetched 3.8943 percent at the term depositauction facility (TDF), 12.97 basis points lower than last week's 4.0240percent.Likewise, the yield of the 14-day term deposits declined by 14.25 basispoints to 3.8772 percent from 4.0197 percent, while the 28-day term depositrates dropped by 13.65 basis points to 3.9054 percent from 4.0419 percent.The last time term deposit rates were below four percent was in August 2018.BSP Deputy Governor Francisco Dakila Jr. said term deposit rates fell acrossthe board yesterday after the Monetary Board resumed its easing cycle,slashing interest rates by 25 basis points last Feb. 6 as a preemptive moveto support market confidence and to provide additional policy support toward off the potential spillovers associated with increased externalheadwinds including the outbreak of the 2019 novel coronavirus.The central bank has slashed interest rates by 100 basis points since Maylast year amid the benign inflation environment as well as slower thanexpected gross domestic product (GDP) growth.NBA SCORES FEB 11FINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Clippers 37-17    22    32    23    26    103team logo 76ers 34-21    30    24    27    29    110SCORING LEADERSK. Leonard LAC30 PTS, 4 REB, 9 ASTB. Simmons PHI26 PTS, 12 REB, 10 ASTFINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Bulls 19-36    26    36    20    32    114team logo Wizards 19-33    36    33    31    26    126SCORING LEADERSZ. LaVine CHI41 PTS, 9 REB, 4 ASTB. Beal WAS30 PTS, 4 REB, 7 ASTFINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Spurs 23-31    25    24    30    35    114team logo Thunder 32-22    14    27    36    29    106SCORING LEADERSL. Aldridge SA25 PTS, 14 REB, 3 ASTC. Paul OKC31 PTS, 2 REB, 7 ASTFINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Trail Blazers 25-30    36    29    21    31    117team logo Pelicans 23-31    27    36    41    34    138SCORING LEADERSD. Lillard POR20 PTS, 5 REB, 6 ASTZ. Williamson NO31 PTS, 9 REB, 5 ASTFINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Celtics 37-16    19    30    22    34    105team logo Rockets 34-20    23    24    31    38    116SCORING LEADERSG. Hayward BOS20 PTS, 8 REB, 6 ASTJ. Harden HOU42 PTS, 8 REB, 7 AST