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2019 growth expansion scaled up using 2018 prices

THE ECONOMY grew faster than previously estimated last year using 2018 as the base year in measuring the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Monday.

Using 2018 as the base, Philippine GDP growth averaged six percent in 2019, a tad faster than the 5.9% previously reported in January that used 2000 prices.

Growth in the fourth quarter was revised upwards as well to 6.7% from 6.4% previously.

On the expenditure side, household consumption growth last year was scaled up to 5.9% from 5.8% using 2000 as the base year. Likewise, gross capital formation growth in 2019 was revised to 2.5% from a 0.6% decline.

On the other hand, government spending growth was revised to 9.6% last year, down from the previously reported 10.5%.

The growth in the exports and imports of goods and services were also downscaled to 2.4% (from 3.2%) and 1.8% (from 2.1%), respectively.

On the production side, the new base year led to upward growth revisions in the services sector in 2019 at 7.5% from 7.1% using 2000 prices.

On the other hand, industry and agriculture, forestry and fishing grew by 4.7% (from 4.9%) and 1.2% (from 1.5%), respectively.

According to a note provided by the PSA titled “Primer on the overall revision and reading to 2018 of the Philippine System of National Accounts,” rebasing is a process of replacing an old base year with a more recent one.

“The base year provides the reference to which future values of GDP are compared,” the PSA primer read.

Using an outdated base could mean the growth of an economy may be underestimated as new industries may not be captured by the old method.

The overall revision and rebasing to the 2018 base year include new industries such as information and communication; accommodation and food services; education; and human health and social work activities.

It also added expenditure components such as “valuables” under gross capital formation and “newly highlighted export and import commodities.”

Prior to the 2018 base year, the country’s national accounts have undergone four overall revisions — 1968 (from base year 1955 to 1967), 1973 (from base year 1967 to 1972), 1995 (from base year 1972 to 1985), 2011 (from base year 1985 to 2000).

The preliminary results of the first-quarter 2020 economic performance, which will henceforth be using the 2018 base year, is scheduled to be released on May 7. — LOP

DoTr proposes to free up P15-B funds for coronavirus response

By Arjay L. Balinbin
Reporter

THE Department of Transportation (DoTr) on Monday said it identified 35 transport projects where around P15 billion can be freed up for the government’s coronavirus pandemic response efforts.

“[The DoTr] submitted to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) the list of projects for budget realignment to free up P15.1 billion of funds for initiatives to mitigate COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019),” the department said in a statement.

Transportation Assistant Secretary Goddes Hope O. Libiran declined to provide the list, but said it includes 35 program items and projects across all transport sectors such as rails, airports, ports and roads.

“Hindi ko pa ma-ishare kasi proposal pa lang siya (I cannot share the list because it’s just a proposal). It’s still up to the DBM if they will accept it,” she said in a phone interview.

Ms. Libiran said the projects are not being axed and will still proceed since only a portion of their budgets may be realigned.

“Hindi ititigil ang project… ’Yung portion ng budget ng projects na hindi naman madi-disburse this year, ’yun ang pwede naming ibigay o i-realign (The project will not be stopped… The portion of the budget that will not be disbursed this year, we can realign those),’’ she said.

Under the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, the President has the authority to realign items from the 2019 and 2020 national budgets so it can fund measures to contain COVID-19.

The government has allocated P1.45 trillion so far for fiscal and monetary measures for COVID-19 response, the Finance department said. Around P304 billion has been allotted to assist the most vulnerable sectors, while the majority of the P830.272-billion funds will go to initiatives that will support the economy.

The Department of Finance recently said government expenditures are expected to hit P583 billion for emergency support to vulnerable sectors alone, while it has allotted P35 billion for medical expenses for the COVID-19 fight.

Work on many public infrastructure projects have stopped in Luzon, as the island was placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) on March 16. The ECQ is scheduled to be lifted on April 30, although the government is weighing whether or not to extend it further.

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) has allowed limited work for 13 rail projects despite the Luzon-wide lockdown.

These rail projects are the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 1 Cavite Extension, LRT-2 East Extension, LRT-2 West Extension, LRT-2 Fire Restoration, Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 3 Rehabilitation, MRT-7, Metro Manila Subway, Common Station, Philippine National Railways (PNR) Clark 1, PNR Clark 2 and Calamba, Subic-Clark Railway, PNR Bicol, and Mindanao Railway.

Public Works Secretary Mark A. Villar has said the department has reallocated a small amount — about P30 billion — from the government’s “Build, Build, Build” program to help finance the response to the crisis.

The “Build, Build, Build” budget stood at P816.2 billion last year. This year, the main agencies implementing the program, the Department of Public Works and Highways and the DoTr, have been given a budget of P581.7 billion and P100.6 billion respectively.

Mr. Villar has also said that projects under the infrastructure program will be slightly delayed, but targets for 2020 will still be met.

MB foreign debt approval falls 30% in first quarter

THE Monetary Board (MB) approved $2.38 billion worth of foreign borrowing by the National Government (NG) in the first quarter of 2020, down 30% year on year, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

The approvals included a bond issue worth 1.2 billion euros, four project loans amounting to $493 million, as well as two program loans totaling $800 million.

The NG will use the funds for general financing requirements and projects related to infrastructure development and transport connectivity, as well as the implementation of the Philippine Competition Act.

It will also use the proceeds to generate employment and support for operations to respond to natural disasters, the BSP said.

“Of the total approved borrowing, about 9.23% or $219.8 million will fund an infrastructure flagship project (IFP) under the ‘Build, Build, Build’ program particularly the undertakings of the Project Management Consultancy of the Philippine National Railways South Long Haul Project,” the BSP said.

The MB must give prior approval for all foreign loans entered into by the national government, according to the 1987 Constitution.

Outstanding external debt rose 1.1% quarter on quarter to $83.6 billion at the end of 2019. — Luz Wendy T. Noble

Ayala Corp. to merge energy, water and infrastructure units

By Adam J. Ang

AYALA Corp. is merging its energy, water, transport, and logistic entities to boost its power and infrastructure portfolios in the country.

In an announcement sent to the stock exchange on Monday, the diversified conglomerate said it was consolidating two of its listed firms, AC Energy, Inc. and Manila Water Co., Inc., as well as its unlisted unit, AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp. (AC Infra).

The consolidated firms will be placed under AC Energy, which is set to be renamed as AC Energy and Infrastructure Corp. (ACEIC).

“We believe that consolidating our various infrastructure interests creates a formidable platform with a strong balance sheet and allows Ayala to participate in the many opportunities in infrastructure development in a more significant way,” Ayala Corp. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala said in a statement.

Ayala Corp. will sell and transfer its shares in its infrastructure arm to ACEIC, as well as its shares in MWC or its shares in Philwater Holdings Co., Inc. The new holding firm will also subscribe to primary shares in AC Infra.

Analysts saw the move to consolidate the businesses as “strategic” as it could offer more to investors and in turn, they could bet on the company for the long-term.

“The move of Ayala seems strategic to consolidates all it BUs (business units) into one platform to benefit from synergies as well as make them a more formidable player in the infrastructure space,” said Luis A. Limlingan, managing director of Regina Capital Development Corp.

Claire T. Alviar, a research associate at Philstocks Financial, Inc., said the consolidation is “more strategic for the company to integrate the said units into one company.”

“It can perform better in its industry since the company has now more capacity to offer… Lastly, opportunities will rise given that the integrated unit could offer more services, so planning and executing one project would be easier, and this is favorable for the clients,” she added.

Shares in Ayala Corp. on Monday rose by 1.51% to close at P606 apiece.

The announcement came as Ayala-led AC Energy Philippines Inc. (ACEPH) held a “virtual” annual stockholders meeting during which it was renamed AC Energy Corp. after stockholders adopted a resolution to change the company’s name.

In the meeting of ACEPH held via teleconference on Monday, a majority of the company’s stockholders approved the resolution to change the corporate name of the Ayala unit, as well as the move to raise its authorized capital stock to P48.4 billion from P24.4 billion.

The move to change the company’s name followed ACEPH’s acquisition of the international renewables business of its parent company AC Energy, Inc.

“The Board of Directors has deemed it appropriate to amend the name of the corporation and remove ‘Philippines’ from the corporate name to make it clear and to emphasize that the business and operations of the corporation are no longer limited to the Philippines, but also in other countries in the Asia-Pacific region,” ACEPH President John Eric T. Francia said in the virtual meeting.

Last month, ACEPH’s board agreed to inject primary shares to its parent in exchange for the latter’s shares in Presage Corp., which has a portfolio of renewable energy projects in Indonesia, Vietnam and other countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

Stockholders approved the proposal to increase the firm’s authorized capital stock to realize this deal, which is expected to close within the year.

“The issuance of additional shares to AC Energy will require an increase in the corporation’s authorized capital stock, thus the board has approved the creation of P24 billion shares,” Mr. Francia said.

Mr. Francia said that minority shareholders are not compelled to subscribe to additional shares of ACEPH upon the infusion of the international asset to the company, but it will put up a follow-on offering as required by the Philippine Stock Exchange.

“ACEPH will need to undertake a follow-on offering after this second asset-for-shares swap. This will be a public offering and will not be limited to existing shareholders of ACEPH,” he added.

The company has been repurchasing up to P1 billion of its shares since March 24.

It is also expecting to complete its stock rights offer of up to P2.27 billion within the second quarter of the year.

In June last year, AC Energy acquired the controlling stake of the Philippine Investment Management (Phinma) Group in Phinma Energy Corp., which was later renamed AC Energy Philippines.

Meanwhile, the listed firm said it had seen a 30%-40% drop in power demand, which brought down its uptake volumes, as businesses have temporarily shuttered following the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Luzon.

The company has since worked with both suppliers and consumers to ensure unhampered delivery of energy services.

“Most of our plants are under bilateral contracts or feed-in-tariff arrangements, so our commercial operations team is working closely with our customers and suppliers to make sure that we maintain a balanced portfolio, in terms of energy supplied and energy delivered,” Mr. Francia said.

Amid slumping oil prices, the energy firm said its peaking power plants are in a “very good position” to provide cost-efficient power supply and ancillary services to the grid during periods of high demand.

The company also saw delays in their on-going projects due to work restrictions as per quarantine protocols. “However, our development teams continue with planning, engineering and permitting work on projects to maximize timelines,” he said.

ACEPH ENDS COAL INVESTMENTS
Further, ACEPH will no longer invest in coal-fired power plants in part of its commitment to having a low-carbon portfolio by 2030.

“With its new EMS (Environmental Management System) policy, ACEPH will now focus on renewable investments and we will not be making additional investments in coal plants. The company, however, remains open to thermal technology such as gas or diesel-fired power plants that complement our renewable assets and developments, Mr. Francia said.

AC Energy targets to have an attributable capacity of about 1,500 megawatts this 2020 with 50% of this coming from renewables.

“We are making a commitment to transition into [a] low-carbon portfolio by rebalancing our generation portfolio to grow our renewable energy assets,” ACEPH Chairman Fernando Zobel de Ayala said in a taped video message.

Shares in ACEPH on Monday grew by 4.23% to close at P2.22 each.

ACE Enexor studies two potential oil exploration sites

AN Ayala-led petroleum exploration unit is currently assessing two potential areas for oil drilling in West Palawan.

In the online annual stockholders meeting of ACE Enexor Inc. on Monday, the company said that its subsidiary Palawan55 Exploration & Production Corp. is conducting evaluations for two possible oil sites.

“Palawan55 is currently conducting [a] follow-on evaluation of two candidate targets for drilling. Upon completion of the comparative assessment, the consortium will decide the prospect to be drilled,” ACE Enexor Chief Operating Officer Raymundo A. Reyes, Jr. said in the virtual meeting.

ACE Enexor Chairman Jose Eric T. Francia said they might focus on one of the two specific target sites for potential drilling by 2022 after finishing on-going studies within the year.

Mr. Reyes said the prospect-specific technical studies are expected to be finished by June. “The second half of 2020 will be spent primarily for well planning,” he added.

Recently, the Department of Energy (DoE) approved the entry of the deep-water block project led and operated by Palawan55 into an appraisal period starting April 26.

Within the first two years of this period, it committed to drill at least one deep-water well. The unit will soon submit for approval a new work program and budget for this phase.

The project under the DoE Service Contract 55 was classified as a non-associated gas discovery.

Palawan55 is currently undertaking a quantitative interpretation of over 1,000 square-kilometer of recently reprocessed 3D seismic data over the greater exploration area called Hawkeye-1 and a large carbonate reef prospect.

The ACE Enexor unit recently raised its stake in SC 55 to 75% after a co-contractor, Singapore bourse-listed Century Red Pte. Ltd., transferred its 37.5% interest share to the company as it pulled out from the project. Pryce Gases, Inc. owns the remaining quarter of interest.

Meanwhile, the company aims to execute its drilling programs throughout 2021, including permitting work, procurement of supplies and equipment, and deployment of a drilling team.

“We anticipate that the execution of the drilling program will be our focus throughout 2021,” Mr. Reyes said.

On Monday, shares in ACE Enexor rose by 5.31% to close at P6.74 each. — Adam J. Ang

Dylan’s ‘Times They Are A-Changin’’ lyrics for sale for $2.2 million

LOS ANGELES – Bob Dylan’s handwritten lyrics to his 1960s classic “The Times They Are A-Changin’” are going up for sale with a $2.2 million asking price in what could mark a world record for rock lyrics.

Gary Zimet, owner of Los Angeles-based autograph dealers Moments in Time, said on Sunday that the one-page sheet of lyrics, written in a notebook and with changes and scribbles, was originally owned by Dylan’s current manager, Jeff Rosen, and was now being sold by an anonymous private collector.

“It’s not an auction. It’s a private sale. First come, first served,” Zimet told Reuters.

Dylan’s handwritten lyrics to “Like a Rolling Stone” fetched a world-record $2 million when they were sold at auction by Sotheby’s in New York in 2014.

“The Times They Are A-Changin’,” written by Dylan in 1963 and released on his 1964 album of the same name, is regarded as one of the most iconic protest songs of the 1960s.

Zimet said he was also selling the lyrics of two other Dylan songs – his 1965 track “Subterranean Homesick Blues” for $1.2 million, and 1969 ballad “Lay Lady Lay” for $650,000.

“They are not quite as important, as iconic,” said Zimet, explaining the lower prices. “‘Subterranean Homesick Blues’ is certainly a major, major song but not in the same league as ‘The Times They Are A-Changin’.”

The lyrics to popular songs, especially when handwritten and with scratched-out ideas or doodles, have become some of the most sought-after items for collectors of celebrity memorabilia.

Don McLean’s 16-page draft for “American Pie” fetched $1.2 million in 2015, while Paul McCartney’s scribbled partial lyrics for a recording of “Hey Jude” sold for $910,000 at an online auction earlier this month.

Dylan, 78, last month released his first original music in eight years with a 17-minute song called “Murder Most Foul” that was inspired by the 1963 assassination of US President John F. Kennedy. In 2016, Dylan became the only singer-songwriter to win the Nobel Prize for Literature. – Reuters

SEC plans easier registration rules for new corporations

THE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) wants to relax rules for the registration of new domestic corporations by allowing the submission of unnotarized documents.

The corporate regulator issued a draft memorandum circular on Monday allowing companies to register through the submission of articles of incorporation accompanied by a certificate of authentication.

Both documents don’t need to be notarized nor consularized as long as all incorporators sign the certificate of authentication that the SEC templated.

The initiative is in line with the SEC’s goal of “bolstering ease of doing business in the Philippines,” as it said improving the business climate in the country will benefit the economy.

While notarization is no longer required in the proposed rules, the SEC said corporations may still choose to acknowledge their articles of incorporation before a notary public.

If the articles of incorporation are executed abroad, these may be “apostilled,” or accompanied by a specialized certificate to be acknowledged by members of the Hague Apostille Convention as legitimate. Another option is to have these notarized or authenticated by a Philippine diplomatic or consular officer.

The SEC warned that if a corporation is found to have committed fraud or misrepresentation in its registration, its certificate of registration will be revoked. Those that assisted violators in the fraud will be fined P200,000 to P2 million. If the violation is found detrimental to the public, the fine would be P400,000 to P5 million.

“The SEC expects the proposed guidelines relaxing the registration requirements for domestic corporations to help improve the ease of doing business in the Philippines and subsequently bolster the economy,” it said in a statement.

The proposed rules are currently for review of the public, which may send their comments to the SEC until April 30. — Denise A. Valdez

The Last Dance: Of legends and reprieve

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Senior Reporter

TELEVISION REVIEW
The Last Dance
Netflix

ONE of the best dynasties in National Basketball Association history, the Michael Jordan-led 1990s Chicago Bulls completed their impressive run by winning their sixth title in eight years in 1998.

But it did not come easy for the Bulls as they wove their way through a myriad of issues – including the team’s tension with the front office, contract disputes, and the thought that it was their last run as a collective – that could have easily derailed their quest for a second three-peat in the decade.

At the center of it all was the team’s main draw card – Michael Jeffrey Jordan – and how he dealt with it all, which only further solidified his legend as the game’s greatest of all time.

This is the focus of The Last Dance – a 10-part documentary produced by ESPN Films and whose first two episodes, running for nearly an hour each, were made available over Netflix outside of the United States beginning on Monday.

The title was taken from the chosen theme of then-Bulls coach Phil Jackson as they made their final run with the group that included Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, and Toni Kukoc.

It was to signify that the season was to be enjoyed as it happens because that was it – the last time.

The documentary was directed by Emmy Award-winning director Jason Hehir whose body of work includes The Fab Five, The ’85 Bears, and Andre the Giant.

Hehir and his team worked for years, searching far and wide to come up with a “definitive story of an era-defining dynasty.”

SET THE STAGE
The first two episodes of The Last Dance set the stage for what Jordan and Company had to grapple with as they went for a repeat three-peat in the 1997-98 season of The Association.

With management already thinking of rebuilding, so much so it gave Jackson just a one-year contract despite helping the Bulls to a fifth title the season prior, the team felt it was being “betrayed,” firmly believing that it was still on top of its game and had a lot of basketball left in it.

Such was the tension with the front office in the lead-up to the new season, a period that Jordan and the other Bulls, as well as other people privy to what was happening, admitted to have been very difficult.

Adding to the quagmire was the situation of team number two Pippen, who felt underappreciated by the team and believed he was not being compensated accordingly. He started the quest for their sixth title injured and hinted at wanting to be traded.

Through it all, Jordan refused to be derailed on the way to what they had set out to do, turning to his go-getting and winning mindset honed by all the experience he garnered from his formative years in Wilmington, North Carolina, his collegiate days, to him joining the struggling Bulls in 1984 and their eventual ascent to the NBA summit.

In developing this, Hehir makes use of extensive basketball footage and introspective interviews of those who were part of the engaging journey of Jordan, both as man and hoops legend.

FOR JORDAN AND BULLS FANS
If you happened to be a fan of Jordan and the Bulls, The Last Dance is a must-see as it provides a solid portrayal of the legends, which should only affirm your affinity for them and what they accomplished.

And the thing about how it is told is that it strikes a balance, with the personalities involved presented with all their strengths and frailties.

In the case of Jordan, for example, while his tremendous skills on the court and dogged determination to win were something to behold and are highlighted in the documentary, things like his tendency to be hard on himself and his teammates – some even say he was bordering on being a bully – when things were not going their way are also presented.

However, instead of being oft-putting, one is left with a better understanding of where they were coming from, and, hence, appreciate them more for who they were.

The Last Dance is also a good window for those who never got to see what Jordan and his Bulls did during their run.

Nothing beats having seen them back in the day, but with the texture and treatment the documentary is given, it serves as a quality piece for millennial basketball fans to add to the stories that were passed down to them, or what they had seen in other features about NBA basketball during that era.

REPRIEVE
The Last Dance was originally scheduled to be released in June but ESPN decided to move up its release as a form of temporary relief from the many concerns surrounding the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

And on that front one could say it made the right decision, considering the enthusiasm and interest generated around the release of the documentary.

This week was supposed to be the start of the NBA playoffs had the league not suspended the season on March 11 because of COVID-19.

Watching the first two episodes was a welcome change after going for a month or so without engaging in hoops fare, or any sporting event for that matter.

And what is great is that the setup allows fans and viewers to have something to look forward to over the next four weeks.

Episodes 3 and 4 of The Last Dance air on April 27.

Photo caption: The 10-part documentary The Last Dance on Netflix spotlights Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls as they went for their sixth NBA title in eight years in 1998 and provides viewers a reprieve from everything that is happening with COVID-19 (Netflix).

Free-form approach is exciting

DAEMON X Machina was about a year into development prior to its public unveiling at the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2018. The reception was good, and not simply because it had industry giants Nintendo and Marvelous behind it. As a stylized third-person mech-action shooter, it certainly benefited from the involvement of veteran producer Kenichiro Tsukuda; his excellent work on the highly regarded Armored Core series raised expectations. And it didn’t hurt that noted character designer Yūsuke Kozaki was likewise on board.

In this regard, Daemon X Machina’s arrival on the Nintendo Switch a couple of seasons later proved to be more miss than hit. For all its pedigree, it received a lukewarm reception both critically and commercially when it was launched late last year. In retrospect, it did itself no favors by doing the publishing equivalent of buying the lede; while it had a lot of things going for it, Nintendo’s relative inability – or, as the case may be, failure – to sustain the push for its release, especially in light of the competition it faced, all but ensured that it would fight an uphill battle from the get-go. It elbowed for shelf space alongside such notables as The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening and Astral Chain, thereby limiting its mass appeal in an already-saturated market.

Which was just too bad, because Daemon X Machina came as advertised – its polished version, that is. Earlier in 2019, Marvelous released a demo on the Nintendo eShop that wrongly gave gamers the impression it was close to completion. To the contrary, the developer wanted the early look to be a call for constructive feedback, deeming the reception as a compass by which work would be guided. In its aim to please, however, it wound up telegraphing the mistaken view that it still needed a lot of work late in its production cycle.

As things turned out, Daemon X Machina could not overcome the backlash. Never mind its intriguing narrative. Gamers begin their journey as part of the Outers, a group of pilots in command of mechs imbued with special abilities. They act as the world’s protectors, forming the last line of defense against a genocidal artificial intelligence that seeks humanity’s destruction. By bringing into battle a wide assortment of machine guns, sabers, grenades, and rockets, they seek to accomplish missions aimed at ensuring that the remnants of humanity will survive, and then thrive.

It’s a lofty story, and one that provides an interesting backdrop to Daemon X Machina’s gameplay. Unfortunately, the themes don’t get wholly explored, instead taking a backseat to more pressing pursuits. From the myriad battlegrounds up for exploration, it invariably gives off the impression that its overarching narrative is nowhere near as important as its general feel. The grim, almost hopeless reality is conveyed extremely well through its bleak environments and terrifying enemy mechs. Meanwhile, it employs a sleek anime art style, vibrant and eye-catching in its design, and clearly meant to wow and entrance. Its deliberate stylistic choices definitely add to the appeal; gamers are invited to focus on the world around them while giving in to their instincts and kicking AI butt.

And oh, the many ways success can be had. Employing an intriguing combination of Armored Core, Zone of the Enders, and even Front Mission, Daemon X Machina gives gamers free rein to customize their mechs. That means sticking a variety of dangerous weapons onto any limb, orifice, and bag. The equipment all handle differently, and, coupled with the open-ended combat system, make skirmishes pretty exciting. Want to engage from afar, taking out enemies with lasers and sniper bullets? Check. Want to relive Gundam dreams, machine gun in one hand and shield in the other, with a laser sword handy for encounters in close quarters? Check. And the mechanics work, employed at a fluid and exhilarating pace that never lets up from mission start to mission end.

Broken down to brass tacks, the free-form approach makes Daemon X Machina so exciting, and, when paired with the ability for cooperative play, continually giving. In this regard, it proves very much at home on the personal computer, where Xseed Games has thankfully given it a new lease on life. It’s a bit light on story, but more than compensates with robust customization and battle elements presented in pleasing aesthetics. Gamers can dip into the well time and time again, and find sustenance and nourishment in any number of flavors.

THE GOOD:

  • Great customization elements
  • Wide variety of weapons to choose from
  • Outstanding visual design
  • Appropriately engaging music tracks
  • Excellent voice acting

THE BAD:

  • Relatively slow early missions that feel out of place
  • Fairly weak and cliched narrative

RATING: 8.5/10

POSTSCRIPT: As a tank simulator, Battle Supremacy: Ground Assault is likewise steeped in customization. Upgrades are presented in abundance via card-building mechanics that allow for the continual trading of engines, parts, and weaponry. And, on paper, the premise is sound. A seemingly endless array of combinations – from the cosmetic to the critical – is in offer, with only imagination serving as the limiting factor. These will then be put to the test while exploring vast and varied environments through 60 levels of intense action.

There’s just one problem, however. The buildup to Battle Supremacy: Ground Assault is excellent, but the implementation leaves much to be desired. Frame rates vary wildly, and can lead to hiccups at the most inopportune moments. Meanwhile, the AI is all over the place in terms of the challenge it presents; some enemies can be quite easy to overcome, while others offer extremely stiff, even borderline unfair, resistance. And most egregious is the waiting time between any type of action. The lure and allure of customization lie precisely in the capacity to put collected parts in circulation as desired or as necessary. Unfortunately, twiddling thumbs invariably becomes the cost of equipping and using them, thus negating their purpose in highlighting progress.

Battle Supremacy: Ground Assault boasts of a handful of multiplayer options, among them the self-explanatory King of the Hill and Capture the Bases modes. Up to 16 players can participate, but the seeming lack of an online population makes matchmaking iffy at best. Which effectively compels it to lean on its single-player strengths. If only it did so from the outset. It might have well delivered on its promise.

THE GOOD:

  • A bevy of customization options
  • Engaging campaign mode

THE BAD:

  • Frame drops
  • AI all over the place
  • Long load times
  • Iffy matchmaking

RATING: 7/10

THE LAST WORD: Atypical Games tries to move the Battle Supremacy series forward with Battle Supremacy: Evolution, which takes on a science-fiction bent and brings the action to the air. The name of the game remains customization, though less on inventory and more on characteristics. Nonetheless, players will likely be spending much time ruminating on the possibilities. And, thankfully, the outcomes are shown with nary a skip; a mere flick of the shoulder button transforms the machine they have on tap from a tank to a drone to a fighter plane.

The missions provide any and all sorts of challenges, with the number of levels raised to three digits; even racing gets in on the act. Perhaps accepting the absence of a thriving online community, it moves to provide multiplayer options ad hoc. Thankfully, controls are intuitive and a blast to use, especially in the skies. For good measure, Battle Supremacy: Evolution allows gamers to leave maneuvering on auto pilot; combat thus becomes the lone task at hand. In other words, it takes pains to engage its audience precisely at a point where the latter is most comfortable.

Battle Supremacy: Evolution’s presentation is sleek and fast, and certainly better than Battle Supremacy: Ground Assault’s. The sheer wealth of content on offer should provide hours upon hours of gameplay.

THE GOOD:

  • Customization remains the name of the game
  • Fast-paced
  • Technically sounder than its predecessor

THE BAD:

  • No online multiplayer options
  • Clunky tank controls

RATING: 7.5/10

Jobstreet lists jobs hardest hit by lockdown

By Jenina P. Ibañez, Reporter

ONLINE job search website Jobstreet.com saw a decline in merchandising, retail, and mechanical engineering job postings amid the lockdown declared to contain the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Jobstreet Country Manager Philip Gioca told BusinessWorld in an email on Friday that the website saw a sharp 73% drop in jobs available in merchandising since the lockdown was announced. Available jobs in sales or retail fell by 68%, while jobs in mechanical engineering dropped 65%.

The International Labor Organization projects a 6.7% loss in total job hours globally, or the equivalent of 195 million full-time workers, in the second quarter of 2020 as a result of the pandemic.

The National Economic and Development Authority said that 116,000 to 1.8 million Philippine jobs could be lost.

Demand for digital and healthcare jobs however remain strong.

“There’s a strong move to the digital workforce. We can see today that jobs that can be done remotely or online remain strong in demand. Customer service has retained the top 1 spot in the no. of roles still available at 6,000+ openings as of April 15,” Mr. Gioca said.

He said demand for healthcare professionals took the second spot with 4000 jobs, as well as education in English as a Second Language home-based roles (4000 jobs), and information technology/computer roles specializing in software (3000 jobs).

“On the candidate side, the movement is on part-time and home-based jobs,” Mr. Gioca said, adding that the company has an online campaign promoting these jobs.

“Candidates should improve their skills during this ECQ through online tutorials and must stay home to avoid the virus because once the market re-opens there will be a surge in demand again for immediate hiring.”

Mr. Gioca said customer service, education, and administrative roles remain the top specializations accepting fresh graduates.

However, he said Jobstreet had observed a rise in the demand for healthcare workers with no required work experience, with an average salary offer of P23,000 a month for an entry-level position.

“As the country is currently struggling with the dwindling healthcare workforce, companies are seeing the importance of this sector now more than ever,” Mr. Gioca said.

Benilde concert series to raise funds for PGH frontliners

Coro San Benildo, the resident choir of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, is holding a series of concerts online from April 23 to 25 to raise funds for basic medical supplies and food packs meant for the frontliners of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) and neighboring barangays affected by the enhanced community quarantine.

The choir will be performing with some of its alumni including singer Mark Atienza and musical theater performer Hannah dela Rosa, among others.

Coro San Benildo has participated in choral competitions locally and internationally and has won several international awards including the Folklore Category at the 1st Hoi An International Choral Competition in Vietnam, and at the 1st Sing ‘n’ Joy Louisville International Choral Festival and Competition in Kentucky, USA. The choir also won the top prizes in the 54th Seghizzi International Choral Competition in Gorizia, Italy, and was named champion at the Youth Choir Competition in the 70th Llangollen Musical Eisteddfod in Wales, United Kingdom.

The shows will be held on April 23 to 25, 7 to 8 p.m., on the Coro San Benildo Facebook page (facebook.com/corosanbenildo.benilde).

Those who want to donate to the cause can do so via BDO bank transfer (Account name: College of Saint Benilde Inc; account number: 004580243334) or via GCASH QR Code available in the organization’s official social media accounts.

For more information and other inquiries, contact Benilde CSA Coordinator Catherine Panganiban at 0949-177-0494.

RLC property sale continues in China

ROBINSONS Land Corp. (RLC) continues to sell property in its residential project in Chengdu, China despite the onslaught of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

In a disclosure to the stock exchange on Monday, the Gokongwei-led real estate company said it had sold 76% of 564 condominium units and 73% of 64 duplex villas opened for sale from its project in China.

“RLC has noted the warm reception of the market to the high-rise condominium units and low-rise duplex villas released for sale,” it said.

“Despite the lingering effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic, RLC has sold [units] in just a few days of selling, after release of the sales permit,” it added.

RLC said it recently received the sales permit for additional components of Phases 1 and 2 of its residential project in China. The company operates in Ban Bian Jie located in the Wuhou District of Chengdu.

The 220,000-square meter project was launched in mid-2018 and is composed of two phases, which consist of high-rise residential buildings, townhouses and shophouses. RLC said when it sold condominium units and duplex villas recently, the average price per square meter was higher than when it sold the first phase.

However, for its operations in the Philippines, RLC said all 52 of its malls are currently closed, save for select essential stores like supermarkets, pharmacies and banks. About half of its hotel properties are also on limited operations due to the lockdown in place in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

What remains in operation are RLC’s office buildings and industrial facilities. The company has 23 office developments that contributed P5.32 billion or 17% of RLC’s total revenues last year. It also has at least three properties under its industrial and integrated development division, which added P459 million or 2% to RLC’s total revenues last year.

The company posted a 6% increase in net income last year to P8.69 billion, on the back of a P1.02-billion increase in revenues to P30.58 billion. Shares in RLC at the stock exchange increased 44 centavos or 2.88% to P15.70 each on Monday. — Denise A. Valdez

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