TODAY’S TOP STORIES - 18 March 2026

TODAY’S TOP STORIES (from online monitoring)

18 March 2026, Wednesday, 5:00 p.m.

1. Marcos orders DOTr: Suspend fare hike

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

https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/18/marcos-orders-dotr-suspend-fare-hike-1445

2. Marcos: ‘We don’t have a problem’ in supplies of food, fuel products

[ABS-CBN News, Daily Tribune, DZRH, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Manila Times, Manila Standard, News5PH, NewsWatchPlus, Philstar, Panay News, Sunstar]

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2197503/marcos-on-food-oil-supply

3. Marcos on suspending oil excise tax: We’ll see

[ABS-CBN News, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard, News5PH, NewsWatchPlus, Panay News, Sunstar]

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/980421/marcos-on-suspending-oil-excise-tax-we-ll-see/story/

4. House panel: VP Sara impeach complaints have sufficient grounds, hearing starts March 25

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

https://www.rappler.com/philippines/house-committee-declares-sara-duterte-impeachment-complaints-allege-sufficient-grounds-march-2026/

5. House adopts Senate version of fuel excise tax suspension bill

[ABS-CBN News, BusinessWorld, GMA News, News5PH, NewsWatchPlus, SunStar]

https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/3/18/house-panel-backs-adopting-senate-version-of-fuel-excise-tax-suspension-bill-1151

6. Comelec: Marcoleta didn’t commit poll offense over campaign contribution disclosure

[Daily Tribune, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, News5PH, NewsWatchPlus, Panay News, Sunstar]

 https://www.inquirer.net/470571/comelec-marcoleta-didnt-commit-poll-offense-over-campaign-contribution-disclosure/

7. DILG advises LGUs to cut energy use by 10 to 20%

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

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2197533/dilg-advises-lgus-to-cut-energy-use-by-10-to-20

8. PNP, MMDA to offer free rides for commuters affected by March 19 strike

[ABS-CBN News, GMA News, Inquirer, NewsWatchPlus, Philstar, SunStar]

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2197709/pnp-to-offer-free-rides-for-commuters-affected-by-march-19-strike

9. Gov't moves to secure fertilizer supply amid global disruptions

[ABS-CBN News, BusinessWorld, BusinessMirror, Bloomberg, Daily Tribune,  Philstar, Inquirer]

https://tribune.net.ph/2026/03/18/govt-moves-to-secure-fertilizer-supply-amid-global-disruptions

10. Number coding scheme suspended on March 20, 2026 for Eid’l Fitr —MMDA

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

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/980425/number-coding-scheme-suspended-on-march-20-2026-for-eid-l-fitr-mmda/story/

© Philippine Information Agency Monitoring Unit