The Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) is a hot mess—and deep in debt.
PNVF executive director Atty. Miguel Carlos Suarez admitted as much, telling the Senate Committee on Sports in its organizational meeting on Thursday that the national federation has a lot of debt it hasn’t been able to settle yet and that it is operating mainly through newly installed president Frank Lao’s deep pockets.
“When President Frank Lao was placed into PNVF [on August 10], what we did was an inventory of what we have because a lot of ‘liabilities’ are going in. Andaming utang na pinapabayaran,” Atty. Suarez admitted. “Before we could pay that, we have to see what we have. Until now, there’s no official turnover yet for the funds of the federation, so everything President Frank Lao is advancing from his personal funds. We had to prioritize which ones are to be paid first, especially in consideration of the lifting of our suspension. We prioritized paying the coaches, the back wages of the coaches. And until now we haven’t paid everything.”
National Team Allowance Withheld Since July
Later in the meeting, Atty. Suarez admitted that, indeed, the PNVF since July hasn’t been giving national team members the monthly stipend they so richly deserve. “From July onwards, they haven’t received from PNVF,” the executive director confirmed at the meeting. “There’s lack of funds on the part of the PNVF.”
During Alas Pilipinas Men’s campaign, many-time national team stalwart Bryan Bagunas expressed frustration about what he perceived as lack of support for the program, including the non-payment of allowances. It turns out, there’s not a single lie in his explosive revelation back in September, with the PNVF, through Atty. Suarez, admitting as much.
For its part, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chair Patrick “Pato” Gregorio assured the committee that the commission has already stepped in and is ready to provide even more help where needed.
“Kami po ay nakasalalay at handa po kaming tululong jan. And tumutulong na po kami jan. Hindi po ‘yan pangako. Ginagawa na po namin ‘yan. At alam po nina President Lao na kung kailangan pa kaming maglabas ng financial assistance while they are transitioning we will do that,” said Gregorio, who in turn issued a reminder to the PNVF and all other federations. “Ang gusto ko lamang pong mangyari, and let’s put this in record, na kung ano po ‘yung kailangan i-liquidate ng PNVF sa PSC dahil kami po ay hinahabol rin ng COA, ay sana po gawin rin nila ‘yung trabaho nila in terms of liquidation. Kasi habang hindi nali-liquidate ‘yan, ang bumabaon po rito is ‘yung Philippine Sports Commission.”
PNVF Seeking Sponsors for the Long Term
While the PNVF remains a hot mess, Atty. Suarez has assured the Senate and everyone else that the current administration headed by Frank Lao will do whatever it takes to get things fixed and to put the federation on a better path. One avenue the PNVF is pursuing to this end is collaboration with all volleyball stakeholders. Another is to search for long-term sponsorships.
“We intend to collaborate with all stakeholders within the volleyball world. With that, we are currently coordinating with both past administrations,” Atty. Suarez shared. “We plan to engage with long-term sponsors, and a lot of different corporations have already expressed their interest in talking with the current leadership for long-term sponsorships.”
At the very least, the PNVF appears to be well aware of the ills plaguing the federation. Now, it’s up to the new regime to find the remedies.
