Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 7) — TAPE Inc. on Wednesday responded to the issues raised by former “Eat Bulaga” host and ex-Senate president Tito Sotto as to why he and the noontime show’s other mainstays decided to leave the company.
Speaking to CNN Philippines’ The Source, TAPE Inc. chief finance officer and Dapitan City Mayor Bullet Jalosjos said they proposed a pay cut not because the company was losing money.
“There were exorbitant expenses na kailangan namin i-trim down. In fact, ‘yung pinagusapan namin na ibabawas, we weren’t talking about salaries, we were talking about allowances and bonuses na medyo napakalaki,” Jalosjos said.
[Translation: There were exorbitant expenses that we needed to trim down. In fact, the deductions we were talking about, we weren’t talking about salaries, we were talking about allowances and bonuses that are quite big.]“We have to protect the interest of the business kasi kung tumigil ‘yan 300 people, hindi pa to mga talents, 300 people that work for us ang magugutom,” he added.[Translation: We have to protect the interest of the business because if it stops 300, not including talents, 300 people who work for us will end up hungry.]Jalosjos also said that there were no plans to replace Eat Bulaga’s Tito, Vic, and Joey. While it is true the management asked the trio to cut their appearance in the daily show to three times a week, its purpose was to allow the other hosts to shine more, he explained.“We wanted to give a room or way or give the stage and the chance for Wally, Jose, and Paolo to shine… We wanted them (TVJ) to just guide,” he said, referring to other former hosts Jose Manalo, Wally Bayola, and Paolo Ballesteros.If the TVJ team agreed to it, this would have allowed the management to regulate expenses and even increase the salary of other employees and introduce more talents, Jalosjos explained.The TAPE Inc. executive also said the company is still looking into introducing a segment that will feature domestic helpers.
Sotto earlier expressed his fear that the production company’s plan to add such a program, which is similar to the old segment “Maid in the Philippines,” could be used as a political platform.
On Wednesday, TV5 operator Mediaquest Group announced that it has signed an agreement with TVJ and the former hosts of Eat Bulaga. Meanwhile, TAPE Inc. introduced its new set of hosts on Monday.
