IN BRIEF

Envoy hopeful EU, PH will resume FTA talks

EUROPEAN Union (EU) Ambassador to the Philippines Luc Veron has expressed optimism that the “scoping exercise” for the resumption of negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) with the Philippines will bring the relationship to the “next level.” possible increase, between two to eight percent, in the monthly basic salary of the different positions in the national government,” Pangandaman said.

She noted earlier that the Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG) received about P48 million this year for payment to a special services group that will conduct a comprehensive review of the Compensation and Position Classification System for the government sector.

Pangandaman said the planned implementation of another round of salary increases is in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to ensure that the compensation packages in government is “generally competitive” with the salaries of workers in the private sector.

NDRRMC says typhoons’ agri damage tops P12b

THE combined damage to agriculture and infrastructure caused by typhoons Egay and Falcon and the southwest monsoon has reached the P12- billion marked, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

In its updated bulletin, the NDRRMC placed agricultural damage at P5.9 billion in the typhoon-hit areas of Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), and the Cordillera region.

Infrastructure damage, meanwhile, was estimated at P6.8 billion in Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon,

Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Davao region, Soccsksargen, BARMM, and Cordillera.

About 81,371 houses were reported damaged in 12 regions.

Meanwhile, the number of fatalities remained at 30, with 12 confirmed so far.

The total number of reported injuries is 171, with 152 validated.

Acidre urges colleagues to back charity bills

By Maricel V. Cruz

TINGOG party-list Rep. Jude Acidre has rallied his colleagues behind measures meant to assist people in crisis situations beyond Philippine borders, notably refugees, asylum seekers, and stateless persons.

Acidre made the appeal in a privilege speech ahead of the observance of the World Humanitarian Day on August 19.

Acidre said the Philippines, as a country that has a long history with calamities, disasters and war, has “honed its abilities to respond swiftly and efficiently to crises.”

“However, our humanitarian work must not be confined within our borders. Our global village is connected by threads of our common humanity, and when one part of the tapestry suffers, the whole world feels the impact,” Acidre said.

“It is heart-wrenching to witness the unending strife in places like Syria, Yemen, and countless others. As members of the international community, we have a moral responsibility to contribute to the healing process and extend a helping hand to those who cry out for aid,” he added.

Acidre, a former country director of an international humanitarian organization, described victims of crises as refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons and others.

“I, therefore, call on our esteemed colleagues to proactively supportthe passage of several proposed legislative measures now pending before Congress, which aim to provide comprehensive protection for refugees, asylum seekers, stateless applicants, stateless persons, and populations at risk of statelessness,” he stressed.

The EU) and the Philippines jointly announced the start of a scoping exercise towards the resumption of FTA negotiations,” Veron posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, August 15.

“With this launch, the (EU) is paving the way to take its partnership with (Philippines) to the next level,” the envoy added.

Veron reposted the previous statement made by the European Commission (EC).

According to the post, EC President Ursula von der Leyen’s recent visit to the Philippines and meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. paved the way for the planned scoping process. Rey E. Requejo

MMDA pushes drive vs. smoking, vaping

THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is taking a proactive approach to combat smoking in public places, eyeing the involvement of youth leaders in the campaign.

The agency has started using public parks as venues for the series of events with the Sangguniang Kabataan (Youth Council) Federation in Metro Manila taking center stage.

The project aims to promote awareness of the youth on health and safety.

“Our youth must be provided with healthy surroundings. Public parks must be conducive for activities that would strengthen our children’s bodies and protect them against any danger,” said MMDA chairman Romando Artes.

Artes said the MMDA and the 17 local government units in the National Capital Region have agreed to utilize the parks under the agency’s Adopt-A-Park program. He added these parks will be used not only for leisure and relaxation, but for helping combat climate change and air pollution as well. Joel E. Zurbano

BI rescues five human traffic victims at NAIA IMMIGRATION agents have arrested an alleged human trafficker and rescued five suspected lhuman trafficking victims at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said the recruiter and the victims were intercepted at the NAIA Terminal 3 after attempting to depart as tourists bound for Malaysia and Singapore.

In a statement, the BI chief said the group underwent secondary inspection and were interviewed by the immigration protection and border enforcement section (I-PROBES).

During the interview, it was confirmed that the five were recruited to work abroad as massage therapists, entertainers, tutor, and caregiver and were made to pose by their recruiter as her employees.

The BI’s I-PROBES immediately referred the case to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT). Vito Barcelo

CAMPAIGN MATERIALS.

A printing shop in Pasay City has started accepting customized campaign shirts for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections in October. Soliciting votes for or against any political candidate and hanging posters ahead of the elections are punishable offenses, the Commission on Elections warned. Norman Cruz