manilastandard.net
@ManilaStandardPH
@mnlstandardph
@manilastandard
@ManilaStandardYT
Missed your copy of Manila Standard? Call or text our Circulation Hotline at 0917-8848655 or email: circulation@manilastandard.net . For advertisement: email: advertise@manilastandard.net • 09173382170 / 85646229
139k Metro Manila tricycle drivers to get P5,000 ayuda—DSWD By Maricel V. Cruz DEPARTMENT of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian announced on Monday, March 16, the 30 payout sites for the
VOL. XL • NO. 35 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2026
Cash Relief Assistance (CRA) or ayuda to an estimated 139,000 tricycle drivers in Metro Manila. The payout involves P5,000 per recipient under the DSWD’s Assistance Next page
Congress rushes fuel tax bill OK Senate ready to adopt House version to hasten passage for quick price relief By Maricel V. Cruz, Alena Mae Flores, Charles Dantes and Ram Superable
ON THE RISE. Jeepney and bus commuters, left photo, will have to pay more starting today as fuel prices continue to soar due to the war in the Middle East. Upper right shows a motorist filling up a container with gasoline while lower right photo shows yesterday’s prices of pork in a Metro market. Edd Castro
C
ONGRESS is pulling out all the stops to pass measures aimed at cushioning the impact of rising global oil prices on Filipino consumers, including the temporary suspension of fuel excise tax and amendments to the Biofuels Act of 2006.
DOE: Diesel prices to breach P100/l this week
The two measures, which were both certified as urgent by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., reached the Senate plenary on Monday after an all-member caucus was held. Earlier in the day, the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading a measure granting the President the authority to temporarily slash or suspend excise taxes on
By Alena Mae S. Flores
nounced a nationwide transport strike on March 19, Thursday, to protest against the series of fuel price hikes due to the Middle East war. The Makabayan bloc in Congress expressed full support for the nationwide transport strike planned by PISTON. In an updated fare guide, luxury provincial buses will have an additional P0.45 per kilome-
THE Department of Energy has warned that diesel prices will breach the P100 per liter mark this week, reaching as high as P114.90 per liter, while gasoline will stand at P91.60 per liter as global oil prices continue to soar amid the Middle East crisis. “According to calculation, diesel at highest in Metro Manila would be at P114.90. Gasoline prices have many variations – the highest of which is P91.60 per liter,” Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said in a briefing Monday, noting that prices are now at their “most expensive.” Based on the data presented by the DOE, diesel will increase by P20.40 to P23.90 per liter starting today, bringing the diesel prices in Metro Manila to P91.35 to P114.90 per liter. Gasoline will increase by P12.60 to P16.60 per liter, bringing the current price of P63.40 - P75 per liter to P76.3 - P91.60 per liter. Kerosene will also increase by P6.90 to P8.90 per liter, bringing the
Next page
Next page
Next page
Fare hikes up; transport strike set By Rio Araja and Maricel V. Cruz THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has approved new fare adjustments for provincial buses effective March 15, even as the agency prepares to announce fare hikes for jeepneys and buses this week amid rising global oil prices. Meanwhile, the transport group PISTON an-
Sen. Win wants gov’t to further scrimp on expenses By Ram Superable THE Philippine government should immediately enforce aggressive belt-tightening measures as escalating tensions in the Middle East threaten the stability of the economy, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian urged on Monday.
Gatchalian, who also chairs the Senate committee on finance, warned that volatile global oil prices combined with the country’s heavy reliance on imported crude place the Philippines in a vulnerable position during geopolitical conflicts. “We do not know when the conflict in the Middle East will end, and it could
deal a major blow to the economy if the unrest there continues,” he said. The lawmaker pointed to cost-saving measures already being implemented, like energy conservation steps alongside the four-day workweek adopted by several government agencies. Next page
‘One Battle’ wins Oscar best picture, best director “ONE Battle After Another” triumphed at the Oscars on Sunday, winning six awards, including the
coveted best picture statuette, besting “Sinners” in a thrilling finale to one of the most competitive awards
WINNERS. The cast and crew of ‘One Battle After Another’ led by 2026 Oscars best director Paul Thomas Anderson (5thfrom left in the foreground) celebrate as they accept the best picture award at the 98th annual Academy Awards yesterday at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California. AFP
seasons in recent years. Director Paul Thomas Anderson personally won three Oscars, the first of his career, for his political thriller that tackles the hot-button issues of immigration raids and white supremacy. “You make a guy work really hard for one of these,” he said to laughter as he accepted the award for best director. “I wrote this movie for my kids to say sorry for the housekeeping mess that we left in this world we’re handing off to them,” he said after collecting the best adapted screenplay prize. “But also with the encouragement that they will be the generation that hopefully brings us some common sense and decency.” “One Battle” tells the story of a Next page
HISTORIC MOMENT. President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. leads the formal inauguration of Mactan Expo — the iconic new convention center in Lapu Lapu City with direct access to the beach that will host various heads of state of ASEAN member countries during the 48th ASEAN Leaders’ Summit this May. Mactan Expo features a grand pillarless plenary hall that can accommodate almost 3,000 persons at any given function. Also shown in photos are (from left) Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Cindi Chan; Lapu-Lapu City Cong. Junard Chan; Alliance Global Group, Inc. (AGI) President and CEO Kevin L. Tan; and Megaworld President and CEO Lourdes Gutierrez-Alfonso.
PBBM ratings inch up; inflation, corruption main Pinoy concerns By Katrina Manubay PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s disapproval rating went down by three percentage points from 48% in the December 2025 poll to 45% in the latest
Pulse Asia Research 1st Quarter Ulat ng Bayan survey released on Monday. Mr. Marcos’ approval rating also improved by two percentage points, from 34% in December 2025 to 36% in the Next page