Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya has announced plans for a dedicated 7,490-square-meter football pitch at the Bacolod City National High School (BCNHS) Oval, with the P50 million funding provided by the city government.
The project was revealed during the Feb. 25 sendoff ceremony for the city’s delegates to the inaugural Negros Island Region Athletic Association Meet on March 1-7 at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Barangay Mansilingan.
Gasataya noted that many young local athletes currently travel outside Bacolod for training and matches.
“We know there are a lot of teams in Bacolod and some of them are playing outside the city, so by having this quality turf it can help the athletes and can attract more competitions here in the city,” the mayor explained.
The FIFA-standard facility will feature artificial turf and professional-grade lighting, the city said in a press release, making it as Bacolod’s first city-constructed football venue designed to boost grassroots sports and enable local teams to train within the city.
The groundbreaking is scheduled for the first or early second week of March, pending release of the Notice to Proceed (NTP), City Engineer Loben Rafael Ceballos said.
“As soon as we receive the NTP, we will start construction. The exact timeline depends on its issuance,” Ceballos added.
City officials said the initiative aims to nurture athletic talent, strengthen sports development across the community, and position Bacolod as a destination for regional and national competitions. ||
