Hello PW Readers!

This week, we look at who is actually guarding our higher education system. The numbers are uncomfortable. We also break down rising debt costs, construction price jumps, and a practical guide if you are behind on loan payments. And yes, we are hiring serious talent. We’re looking for a Business and Investment Writer, plus a Researcher or Analyst who can dig into data, simplify complex topics, and help us serve smart Filipino readers. Email us at [email protected].

Stay sharp.

Big picture: The crisis inside Philippine higher education is not about students. It is about the regulator. The Commission on Higher Education is trying to police 37,443 college programs with only 398 permanent staff nationwide. In Metro Manila alone, 31 personnel monitor nearly 6,900 programs. That is one person watching over 200 degrees.

What’s breaking: According to Second Congressional Commission on Education, curriculum updates take an average of 11 years. Between 2022 and 2025, only 13% of targeted programs were reviewed. Of those checked, 84% had deficiencies. Teacher education students complete around 360 hours of practice teaching, far below the 800-hour global norm.

Why it matters: College tuition is free in many state universities. Enrollment is rising. But oversight is not keeping up. Lawmakers are pushing reforms that would add 342 quality assurance officers and modernize CHED’s structure. The real question: Can the system fix quality before more students graduate with degrees that do not deliver?

Missed a payment? Don’t disappear. Lenders get nervous when you go silent.

Here’s the playbook:

Reminder: lenders prefer adjusted payments over unpaid balances. Negotiation protects your cash and your credit.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced in Manila that Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries will be automatically enrolled in the Lifeline Rate Subsidy Program starting this month. As of November 2025, 334,400 of 3 million households were registered. Qualified users consuming 50 kWh or less monthly will receive free electricity, supporting utility collections.

Construction material prices in Metro Manila accelerated in January, with wholesale up 0.9 percent and retail rising 1.2 percent year on year, Philippine Statistics Authority data showed. Gains were driven by steel, hardware, fuels, and plumbing items. Higher costs may lift project expenses and affect margins for developers and contractors.

Moody’s and Fitch warned that elevated interest costs are delaying the Philippines’ fiscal consolidation, with the interest-to-revenue ratio seen rising to 13 percent this year. Debt-to-GDP may hit 61 percent as growth slowed to 4.4 percent in 2025. Ratings were maintained, but risks to deficit reduction remain.

The Philippines generated USD3.5 million in sales at Maison&Objet in Paris, up 75 percent from USD2 million last year, the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions said. Fourteen firms joined the January fair, signaling stronger global demand and higher export opportunities for Filipino design brands.

The SexBomb Girls sold out five reunion shows at MOA Arena, drew 100,000 fans in line, self-funded the concerts after being ghosted by producers, and are now taking their first shows to the Middle East. (Read More)

Alex Eala faces American Hailey Baptiste in the Dubai Tennis Championships Round of 64, revisiting last year’s Eastbourne win, with both players ranked in the top 40 for a tight showdown. (Read more)

Emerald Fennell’s “Wuthering Heights” leads Friday box office with $11 million, followed by Stephen Curry’s animated “GOAT” at $7.1 million and Amazon MGM’s “Crime 101” at $3.9 million. (Read More)

The Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino released a mobile app version of its official Filipino dictionary, allowing users to search words easily, access definitions, and promote proper Filipino language use nationwide. (Read More)

Binance was removed from the Google Play Store in the Philippines after SEC enforced rules on unlicensed crypto firms. Its website remains active, but Crypto Asset Service Providers (CASP) compliance is required for operations. (Read More)

The city of Guadalupe in Mexico introduced four robot dogs to help provide security during the 2026 World Cup at BBVA Stadium, where they will patrol areas and assist authorities during matches. (Read more)

A University of Essex researcher warned that AI “deathbots” may change how people grieve after a Chinese woman created a chatbot version of her late mother using AI platform Xingye, raising ethical concerns. (Read more)

Over 2.2 million children in Mindanao and BARMM received measles and rubella vaccines, but hundreds of thousands remain unvaccinated. DOH urges parents to bring children to health centers for protection.

A clinical psychologist said today’s youth are not weak but more open about mental health, after Senator Robin Padilla linked social media use to rising emotional and suicide-related issues.

Researchers found that gently syncing two brain regions made people more generous, sharing money even at a personal cost. The study suggests generosity may be influenced by how brain areas work together.

A study found that marine ecosystems began recovering within a few thousand years after the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs, showing evolution can rebuild species faster than previously thought.

Eight officials, including Duterte, Dela Rosa, Go, and Aguirre, held authority over hit men, driving the anti-drug campaign that killed thousands. (Read more)

The PNP arrested a German suspect after seizing eight kilos of shabu and 3.8 kilos of marijuana, investigations ongoing nationwide. (Read more)

Philippine and Australian navies conduct joint training, exchanges, and workshops to enhance readiness, cooperation, and regional maritime security. (Read more)

LTFRB and Genesis Transport launch 10 hybrid buses, reducing fuel costs, emissions, and encouraging greener, more efficient commuter services. (Read more)

Over 550 participants joined the off-road race to raise funds, awareness, and support for 58 local kidney disease patients. (Read more)

Former President Barack Obama criticized the country’s political discourse after a racist video was shared online, saying most Americans find such behavior deeply troubling and decorum has been lost.

Israeli strikes in Gaza killed 11 Palestinians, including six in the north and five in the south. The IDF said it targeted militants after ceasefire violations, while both sides accuse each other of breaking the truce.

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak expressed regret over his long friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, revealed in documents showing their continued ties even after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for soliciting underage prostitution.

📝 Discover Feng Shui secrets for your home and family on the Chinese New Year special. (Watch)

📝 Tarlac’s Valentine weekend hot air balloon fiesta to draw 20,000 visitors.

📝 Scientists spot school bus–sized jellyfish in Argentine Sea.

📝 ‘Ring of Fire’ solar eclipse set for February 2026.

📝 Gian Bernardino shuts down dating rumors with Maris Racal in TikTok video. (Watch)

 Mindset & Resilience