Nagsalita ang TV host na si Paolo Bediones tungkol sa isyung kinasasangkutan niya at ng Ei2Tech.
Ang Ei2Tech ay ang kanyang private company production na nagkaroon ng partnership sa Department of Education (DepEd) para sa educational programs ng DepEd TV, ang educational TV channel ng naturang government agency na inilunsad noong August 11, 2020.
Television-based mode of instruction ang DepED TV na naging alternatibo ng mga paaralan bilang distance learning set-up para sa mga estudyante dahil sa sitwasyon ng COVID-19 sa ating bansa.
Ang Ei2Tech ang producer ng 10-15-minute video lectures para sa iba’t ibang grade levels mula October 2020 hanggang September 2021.
Kinuha ng E12Tech ang serbisyo ng halos apat na daang media workers at professionals para sa DepEd TV, at nabayaran ng halos P70M para sa kanilang serbisyo.
Pero sa huling tatlong buwan, lumitaw ang mga reklamong delayed na ang talent fee na ipinangako sa kanila kaya nagbanta silang dadalhin sa korte ang problema.
Hiningi ng PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) ang panig ni Paolo tungkol sa isyung kinasasangkutan niya.
Nagpaunlak siyang magsalita ngayong Huwebes, January 27, 2022, para mabigyan ng linaw ang mga akusasyon laban sa kanya.
Pag-amin ni Paolo, “There have been delays in talent fees and the company is finding ways to rectify the situation by sourcing additional funding.
“It was unfortunate that an investor in the project backed out because of COVID a few months ago.
“The company is also fully aware of its obligations to the freelancers who worked on the project. However, there are also some areas of dispute and compliance which have yet to be resolved, like the non-issuance of ORs, unliquidated advances, non-completion of tasks and no clearance.”
GOING TO COURT
Pabor si Paolo na dalhin sa korte ng mga nagrereklamo ang usapin dahil ang korte ang tamang lugar para pag-usapan ang problema.
Saad niya, "The company welcomes the legal process to take place so both parties can clearly be identified and present their side, instead of going to the media where the company may be judged prematurely.
“There are so many 'sources' making statements but are not identifying themselves which does not make it a fair fight."
Diin ni Paolo, hindi kumita ang Ei2Tech sa anumang paraan mula sa proyekto.
Paglilinaw ng veteran host, “One thing that has to be made clear is that the company did not profit in any way from the project, with all public and private funds going to the payment of people, suppliers and vendors as well as overhead expenses, which are all supported by records and transactions.
“The company would like to thank those who reached out and offered words of support and encouragement.”
Hindi pa nakakausap ni Paolo nang personal ang mga nagrereklamo pero nauunawaan daw niya ang kanilang mga nararamdaman kaya gumagawa siya ng paraan upang malutas ang mga problema.
“I have not spoken to them personally, but I understand their patience may have reached its limit.
"So if they feel they have to resort to legal remedies, then so much the better, so that there is order and structure.
"The company is working non-stop to devise strategies and find ways to pay its obligations.
"Basically, nagsugal ako na ituloy production ng DepEdTV para di mawawalan ng mapapanood mga bata na mga video lessons. I was getting sponsors for the project and everything is accounted for.
"Naubos lang ang financial support most likely because of the pandemic, but I am constantly meeting people every day so that the episodes can be donated to DepEd and the people who worked on the project can get paid."
Naninindigan si Paolo na wala siyang nilokong mga tao at hindi siya nakinabang ng pinansiyal mula sa problema na hinding-hindi niya raw ginustong mangyari.