(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Thursday, 19 March 2026) Mindanao will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms due to the Localized Thunderstorms. Possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms. Moderate to strong winds from Northeast to North with moderate to rough seas (1.8 to 2.8 meters) prevails on the eastern section of Mindanao; while rest of Mindanao will have light to moderate winds from Northeast to North with slight to moderate seas (0.6 to 1.8 meters). Northeast Monsoon affecting Northern Luzon.


TODAY’S TOP STORIES - 19 March 2026

 

TODAY’S TOP STORIES (from online monitoring)

19 March 2026, Thursday, 5:00 p.m.

1. Nationwide transport strike kicks off amid rising fuel prices

-Piston: Marcos should have suspended VAT, excise tax, not fare hike

-'We just asked for a peso': Transport groups slam fare hike suspension

-Gov’t offers free rides; MMDA says transport strike has minimal impact on commuters

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

https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/19/piston-launches-transport-strike-0805

2. DOTr to slash train fares by 50% starting 23 March

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

https://tribune.net.ph/2026/03/19/dotr-to-slash-train-fares-by-50-starting-23-march

3. Marcos: PH looking for new oil sources amid global supply disruption

[ABS-CBN News, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard, News5PH, Philstar]

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2198137/marcos-ph-looking-for-new-oil-sources-amid-global-supply-disruption

4. Marcos to PH Army: Shift to external defense role amid new threats

[ABS-CBN News, Daily Tribune, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Buleltin, Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard, News5PH]

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2198176/marcos-orders-ph-army-shift-to-external-defense-role-amid-new-threats

5. Peso breaches P60 to dollar level

[ABS-CBN News, Daily Tribune, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Manila Times, News5PH, Panay News]

https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/3/19/peso-breaches-p60-to-dollar-level-1223

6. Marcos inspects prefab classrooms, tablets rollout in Bataan school

[ABS-CBN News, Daily Tribune, GMA News, Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard, News5PH]

https://tribune.net.ph/2026/03/19/marcos-inspects-prefab-classrooms-tablets-rollout-in-bataan-school

7. Ex-DENR chief Loyzaga appointed as special envoy for disaster management

[Daily Tribune, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard, News5PH, NewsWatchPlus, Philstar]

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/980594/ex-denr-chief-loyzaga-envoy-disaster-management/story/

8. Agri chief files cyber libel complaints vs Zaldy Co, Baligod

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

https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/19/agri-chief-files-cyber-libel-complaint-vs-zaldy-co-baligod-1032

9. PAGASA retires 7 tropical cyclones names from 2025 season

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

https://mb.com.ph/2026/03/19/pagasa-retires-7-tropical-cyclones-names-from-2025-season

10. Filipinas book second straight World Cup appearance with rout of Uzbekistan

[ABS-CBN News, GMA News, Inquirer, News5PH, NewsWatchPlus, Panay News, Philstar]

https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2026/3/19/filipinas-book-second-straight-world-cup-appearance-with-rout-of-uzbekistan-1335

© Philippine Information Agency Monitoring Unit

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