Andres Bonifacio Jr. was previously executive producer at Ei2 Tech Inc, the production company behind DepEd TV programs and lessons that are now used in distance learning.
Andres and about 100 former contractors of the company now plan to file a lawsuit against Ei2 Tech and its owner news anchor and TV host Paolo Bediones.
Former contractors insisted that their wages were absent or delayed from 1 to 8 months.
“Noong binigay sa amin iyong proyektong ito, nagtiwala kami, binigay namin lahat. In fact, natapos namin iyong dapat na i-deliver,” said Bonifacio.
“Maraming mga taong nawalan ng kuryente, napalayas sa bahay, napalayas sa kanilang apartment. Maraming naghirap, nag-suffer dahil sa tagal, dahil sa delay ng pasweldo ng Ei2 Tech,” he added.
According to Andres, in October 2021, the staff stopped production due to a wage delay.
Bediones allegedly promised to pay their salaries by November, December, and January. But so far, they have not heard from the host and company.
Former producers of DepEd TV episodes plan to sue for delay in wages
“Sa kadulu-duluhan, ganito lang din pala ang mangyayari, iiwanan lang din pala kami sa ere,” said Bonifacio.
“As a messenger po nila, ito lang po talaga pinagkakakitaan ko, tapos inaasahan ng buong family ko. Wala pong ibang may trabaho sa amin, ako lang po talaga,” according to Lyndon Taroy who also used to work for the company.
They also plan to complain about the company’s use of their names in the bidding documents of the DepEd TV Phase 2 project, even though they did not allow it and they are no longer part of Ei2 Tech.
According to Education Undersecretary Alain Pascua, their agency has already received the deliverables of Ei2 Tech.
DepEd has also paid the company, and the agency no longer has a contractual obligation if there is unpaid personnel.
According to the contractors, a demand letter will be sent to the company first. If there is no response, they will continue to file the complaint.
This is not the first time the makers of DepEd TV episodes have complained concerning the wage delay. It was late 2020 when the issue came up.
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