PRO 11... FROM 2

the Davao City Police Office, said that police personnel started securing the churches as early as Palm Sunday, as they anticipated droves of devotees to attend the Holy Eucharistic masses for the day.

She said people should expect stricter enforcement of security measures during Holy Week processions and other activities that would draw in huge crowds in churches in the city.

“The churches are coordinating with their respective police stations to prepare the deployment of security personnel,” she said.

Aside from churches, she said the police are also implementing strict security measures in terminals, tourist spots and even malls in the city. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)

ECONOMY...

FROM 5 target in February at 8.6 percent.

The multilateral lender also noted the country’s gains in poverty reduction, employment and other fiscal improvements such as the expected narrowing of its current account deficit due to strong exports, business process outsourcing receipts as well as OFW remittances, among others. However, the ADB pointed out that the country must address climate change challenges as well as risks to food security.

PH... FROM 5

er Ella Blanca Lopez.

The agency attributed the improvement on internet speeds to telcos being able to fast-track building infrastructure - cellular towers and fiber optic networknecessary for boosting services and connectivity, resulting from the streamlining and speeding up the issuance of LGU permits in July 2020 which generated a significant increase in permits granted to telcos from July 2020 to January 2023.

what happens.”

THE GUYS... FROM 11 of Health (DOH), and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG),” it said.

Davis scored 27 in the first half en route to his first 40-point performance since scoring 55 against the Washington Wizards on Dec. 4 and his third of the season.

“We always say we want to get stronger as the season gets longer and be playing our best basketball at the right time,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said. “Well, the time is definitely right and everybody’s in a good rhythm starting with (Davis) first and foremost. He understands wholeheartedly what we need him to do and he’s coming out and trying to do that.”

Davis has scored 38 points or more in three straight games and at least 37 in four of the last five.

“I’m in a great rhythm, feeling good,” Davis said. “Feel like I’m back to myself before the injury. We are all playing well. The guys are making it easy for me.”

MOODY’S... FROM 4 basis points, a widely expected given the still elevated inflation rate in the second month of this year.

BSP eyes inflation to remain above the government’s 2 to 4 percent target band until the third quarter of this year.

Tan said that despite the elevated inflation, domestic demand has remained rather resilient.

“With the cumulative hikes totalling a whopping 425 basis points by the central bank thus far, the higher borrowing costs will soon bite into household consumption,” she said.

“Together with a slowing global economy hurting the demand for what Philippines sells to the world, that’s going to put a lid on the country’s growth this year,” she added.

Moody’s Analytics sees the Philippine economy growing by 5.7 percent this year. (PNA)

Lakers starter D’Angelo Russell, who has started every game since being acquired in a threeteam trade from the Minnesota Timberwolves on Feb. 9, did not return to play in the second half due to left foot soreness. Russell had six points, four assists and three rebounds in 15 minutes.

“It was definitely precautionary,” Ham said of sitting Russell for the second half. “He could have continued the game if we needed him to. The bodies we have available to us now, we just didn’t want to risk it.”

Ham said Russell will be reevaluated and see how he feels on Monday.

Alperen Sengun notched his third straight double-double with 18 points and 15 rebounds, Jalen Green scored 24 points and Kevin Porter Jr. chipped in 20 points. Prior to this stretch, Sengun had one double-double over the previous nine games played.

“That’s an experienced group over there that really needed the win,” Rockets coach Stephen Silas said. “And then a bunch of young guys who are trying to figure it out, who fought and tried. Hopefully learned something tonight.”

The Lakers owned a 70-60 halftime lead, which the Rockets cut to six with 9:38 to go in the third quarter on a reverse layup by Green.

With 30.3 seconds left in the third quarter, James got a roar from the Lakers fans with an emphatic one-handed tomahawk dunk to bring the Lakers’ lead back to 16. That was a part of a 20-7 run by Los Angeles to extend the lead to 117-90 with 7:56 to go.

“You know a guy his size, his ability to get downhill and also make those quick reads, I mean you see it on TV and people can tell you about it, but being actually in the game setting and that’s your matchup,” Kenyon Martin Jr., who scored 11 points, said. “It’s something you got to experience, so that’s the tough thing about guarding (James).”