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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
© Philippine Information Agency Monitoring Unit