Tony Boy Liao targets redundancy and overstaffing in PNVF as he takes the helm from Tats Suzara 

The Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) is entering a new era under freshly elected president Tony Boy Liao, who is set on streamlining an organization long criticized for inefficiency and “one-man rule.”

Liao, whose campaign emphasized transparency and accountability, has already asked for courtesy resignations from all holdover staff under former president Ramon “Tats” Suzara. 

The move aims to address what Liao calls “redundancies” that have plagued the federation for years.

“We really have noticed na maraming mga redundancy na trabaho na isang bagay, isang trabaho, dalawa ang gumagawa, so talagang redundant,” Liao explained.

 “So kapag may mga redundant, I’m sorry, we have to take you off. ‘Yan ang timbangan kung sino ang mga mas kailangan namin.”

For Liao and his team, including new treasurer Rickie Palou, the first priority will be putting the PNVF in order structurally. Later, they plan to open the federation’s books and trace the spending of the P2 billion allocated for hosting the recent FIVB Men’s World Volleyball Championship.

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Newly-elected PNVF president Tony Boy Liao vows the new administration will continue and improve programs from grassroots to the national team level as well as initiate changes within the federation.@tribunephl @TribuneSportsPh pic.twitter.com/NmC1XDI7Tw

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“Gusto namin tingnan na kung talagang redundant, we will try to clean it. Kasi when you say redundancy, na dalawa gumagawa na isang trabaho, ‘yung gastos niyan malaki, dalawa sumusweldo,” he said.

 “Hindi naman mayaman ang PNVF eh. Umaasa lang kami sa mga sponsors, which ngayon, ganu’n pa rin. So kung may mga ganyang gastos, we have to cost-cut para ‘yung ibang pera, magamit namin sa ibang bagay, like for operations, kapag may mga tournaments.”

Liao highlighted the PNVF secretariat as a prime example of overstaffing. The secretariat, responsible for administrative functions, program implementation, international relations, and event management, had around 10 members under Suzara’s administration—far more than the three to four typically found in other national federations. Don Caringal, Suzara’s longtime right-hand man, led the group for the past four years.

“Ang daming tao, ang daming staff, overstaffed. Bakit? Hindi ko alam,” Liao admitted.
“Siyempre, kunyari [sa secretariat] na 10 tao, lahat ito, bibigyan mo ng sweldo, bibigyan mo ng allowances. ‘Yun ang mga cost-cutting [measures] na plan na namin gawin para hindi masyadong waste of money.”

The irony, Liao noted, is that despite being overstaffed, the federation operated in many ways as a “one-man rule,” where key decisions were seen to rest with Suzara rather than the board.

“Marami kasing nagsasabi na one-man rule [si Suzara]. What he wants, it happens and not even referring to the board,” Liao said.

 “Maraming sinasabi, ‘di ko naman ma-enumerate lahat, pero kaya sila siguro napalitan. Sabi nga nila, ‘tama na, nakakasawa na, palitan na.’”

With these organizational reforms, Liao aims to create a leaner, more efficient federation that maximizes resources, reduces wasteful spending, and allows for greater transparency. The overhaul signals a decisive break from the Suzara era and lays the foundation for a PNVF that is not only accountable but also better positioned to support Philippine volleyball at all levels.

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