PHDagupan's Sunday Punch, the Philippines' longest-running community newsweekly, will cease operations in July 2026 after 70 years. Founded in 1956 by journalist Ermin Erfe Garcia, the newspaper became a trusted source of local news in Pangasinan, known for its investigative reporting and holding public officials accountable. Garcia's son, Ermin Garcia Jr., took over and expanded the paper's influence before his death in 2025. Despite its legacy, the newspaper faced financial struggles due to declining print ad revenue, rising costs, and shifting reader habits toward digital platforms. Its closure highlights broader challenges facing independent provincial newspapers, many of which now rely on publishing legal notices and government announcements to stay afloat.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a factual account of the newspaper's history and challenges without overtly favoring any political ideology. It discusses the decline of traditional print media and the impact on local journalism, but does not take a clear stance on political issues beyond reporting on the paper
