(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Wednesday, 18 March 2026) Dinagat Islands will have cloudy skies with light rains due to northeast monsoon. The rest of Mindanao will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains due to northeast monsoon. Moderate to strong winds from North to Northeast with moderate to strong seas will prevail over eastern section of Mindanao (2.5 to 4.0 meters). Meanwhile, the rest of Mindanao will have light to moderate winds from Northeast to North with slight to moderate seas (0.6 to 2.5 meters) Northeast Monsoon affecting the country.


TODAY’S TOP STORIES - 17 March 2026

TODAY’S TOP STORIES (from online monitoring)

17 March 2026, Tuesday, 5:00 p.m.

1.    LTFRB approves fare increase for jeepneys, buses, TNVS; Transport groups says P1 jeepney fare hike not enough, strike to proceed

[ABS-CBN News, BusinessWorld, Daily Guardian, Daily Tribune, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard, Manila Times, Mindanao Times, News5PH, NewsWatchPlus, Panay News, Philstar, Rappler, Sunstar, Watchmen Daily Journal]

https://mb.com.ph/2026/03/17/ltfrb-approves-balanced-fare-hikes-for-jeepneys-other-puvs

2. Marcos leads cash payout to PUV drivers affected by oil price shocks

[ABS-CBN News, Daily Tribune, GMA News, Inquirer, Malaya, Manila Bulletin, Manila Times, NewsWatchPlus, News5PH, Philstar]

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/980261/marcos-leads-cash-payout-to-puv-drivers-affected-by-oil-price-shocks/story/

 3. COUP RUMORS:

-DND, AFP dismiss yet another rumor of coup plot, this time by 'third force'

-Palace dismisses coup talk, says police deployment part of security exercise

[ABS-CBN News, BusinessMirror, Daily Tribune, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Manila Times, Malaya, News5PH, Sunstar]

https://mb.com.ph/2026/03/17/dnd-afp-dismiss-yet-another-rumor-of-coup-plot-this-time-by-third-force

4. DUTERTE IMPEACHMENT CASE:

-Luistro: Duterte reply to impeachment raps is like a motion to dismiss

-3rd impeachment complainants waive right to reply to VP Duterte’s 'non-answer'

[ABS-CBN News, Daily Tribune, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Mindanao Times, News5PH, NewsWatchPlus, Philstar, Sunstar, Watchmen Daily Journal]

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2197043/luistro-duterte-reply-to-impeachment-raps-is-like-a-motion-to-dismiss

5. Marcos vows reforms, calls himself ally of women

[ABS-CBN News, Daily Tribune, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Philstar]

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2196980/marcos-on-womens-welfare’

6. PH lacks capability to escort ships in Strait of Hormuz – Teodoro

[ABS-CBN News, Daily Tribune, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Times, Sunstar]

https://globalnation.inquirer.net/314370/ph-lacks-capability-to-escort-ships-in-strait-of-hormuz-teodoro

7. Plane fares to surge in April as fuel surcharge more than doubles

[ABS-CBN News, Daily Tribune, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Mindanao Times, Panay News, Philstar]

https://business.inquirer.net/579866/plane-fares-to-surge-in-april-as-fuel-surcharge-more-than-doubles

8. DFA dismisses China’s Scarborough evidence; Chinese embassy insists value of document

-Defense chief Teodoro dismisses China’s alleged 1990 letter on Scarborough Shoal

[ABS-CBN News, BusinessWorld, Daily Tribune, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard, News5PH, NewsWatchPlus, Rappler]

https://www.inquirer.net/470450/dfa-dismisses-chinas-scarborough-evidence/

9. BFP names Wilberto Tiu as new officer-in-charge

[ABS-CBN News, Daily Tribune, GMA News, Inquirer, Mindanao Times, Philstar, Sunstar, Watchmen Daily Journal]

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/980273/bfp-oic-wilberto-tiu/story/

10. Lacson: Chavit Singson to testify on flood control projects

[DZBB, DZRH, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, NewsWatchPlus, Philstar]

https://mb.com.ph/2026/03/17/lacson-chavit-singson-to-testify-on-flood-control-projects

© Philippine Information Agency Monitoring Unit

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