Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Thursday, March 9, 2023.

READ: Transport groups terminate strike

TRANSPORT groups ended their strike on Wednesday after Malacañang agreed to review the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP). Mar Valbuena, head of transport group Manibela, said that they decided to stop their strike after meeting with Presidential Communications Office Secretary Cheloy Garafil, former chairman of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), on Tuesday. Mody Floranda, national president of the Pagkakaisa ng Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston), also attended the meeting. Major transport groups originally planned to hold a weeklong strike in protest of the PUV modernization program. They were particularly against the mandatory phase out of old jeepneys by Dec. 31, 2023.

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READ: I am willing to step down – Zubiri

SENATE President Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri said on Wednesday he is willing to relinquish his position as Senate president if his fellow senators will vote him out. He, however, denied that there was a move to oust him. A report earlier said that Zubiri risks losing his post due to his supposed lack of productivity and failure to prioritize key legislative initiatives. The Senate chief said legislation is a tedious task. Senators led by Senate President Pro Tempore Lorna Regina "Loren" Legarda and Senate Majority Leader Emmanuel Joel Villanueva expressed their support for Zubiri.

READ: Experts slam China's 'gray zone' tactics in WPS

SECURITY and maritime experts urged the government to stand up against China's "gray zone" tactics in encroaching into Philippine waters. Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commodore Jay Tarriola said that the most important role of the PCG in recent weeks in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) is removing the shades of gray and exposing what China is doing in black and white. National security, maritime law and geopolitical experts also suggested that the Philippines engage in collective deterrence activities with likeminded allies against Chinese territorial aggression.

READ: Women march as rights under threat across the globe

WOMEN hit the streets en masse across the globe on Wednesday to defend rights that are coming under increasing attack. To mark International Women's Day, capitals across the world hosted marches, rallies and demonstrations, including Madrid, where broad tree-lined boulevards are regularly packed with a sea of purple, a color often associated with women's rights.

BUSINESS: Inflation seen slowing but rate hikes still likely

Over to business, inflation could slow further after February saw an easing to 8.6 percent from January's 14-year high of 8.7 percent, Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) said in a report. The Ayala-led bank said the contribution of transport to inflation could continue to shrink if oil prices remained stable. The decline will likely be gradual due to upside risks outside of oil. High food prices, however, remain a concern.

SPORTS: Embiid lifts 76ers past Timberwolves

In sports, Joel Embiid scored 39 points, Tyrese Maxey added 27, and the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Minnesota Timberwolves, 117-94, on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) despite playing without star James Harden. Harden, the team's second-leading scorer and NBA assist leader, was held out with left foot soreness. Embiid made up for Harden's absence, scoring 22 points in the third quarter as Philadelphia pulled away and wrapped up its five-game road trip with a 4-1 mark. De'Anthony Melton scored 11 for the 76ers, who recovered from a slow start on the second night of a back-to-back. Anthony Edwards scored 32 points for Minnesota, which returned home following a 3-1 West Coast trip. The Timberwolves shot a season-low 39.5 percent from the field and were 11 of 36 from 3-point distance.

READ: Opinion and editorial

Antonio Contreras, Yen Makabenta, and Danton Remoto are today's front page columnists. Contreras talks about a way to move forward in the Masungi Georeserve, Makabenta talks about an old Chinese map transformed the South China Sea into a flashpoint, and Remoto exposes more airport black eyes.

Today's editorial believes there is no good news after February's inflation numbers. Read the full version in the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.

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For The Manila Times, this is Kim Luden Salinas reporting.