•THERESA MAE DULMAN
More than 20,000 delegates from over 180 local government units across the country are set to converge in Bacolod City for the Batang Pinoy 2026, from Dec. 12 to 18.
Following the June 23 official launch of the sporting event by the Philippine Sports Commission, central to Bacolod’s hosting preparation is a dedicated sports app currently being finalized by the city government.
City administrator, Atty. Mark Steven Mayo, said the app will feature athlete profiles, game schedules, and accommodation options, while also serving as a digital scouting mechanism to give young players national exposure.
“The goal of that app is you can see the profile, and hopefully, they can also access accommodations and schedules of games. Once the athlete is inside, there is already a mechanism where they can be scouted and their skills can be seen if there are opportunities or better offers,” Mayo said June 24.
He added that the platform aims to discover grassroots talents and align with the digitalization initiative of Mayor Greg Gasataya.
The delegates will see a revamped tournament format this year, as the PSC has modified the athlete’s age bracket to 8 to 15 years old to strictly focus on early grassroots development.
Mayo said that aligning Batang Pinoy with the Palarong Pambansa’s age requirement creates a clearer pathway for young talents.
He noted that aligning the government’s sports programs provides better developmental opportunities for grassroots athletes.
Thirty sports events will be played in various venues across the city, and the local government is considering the Bacolod Masskara Coliseum for the opening ceremonies and several major games if it can be completed on time.
Officials from the PSC, led by chairman John Patrick Gregorio, are scheduled to return to Bacolod next month for final inspections and to finalize all playing venues for the week-long athletic meet.
The city government has already conducted an inventory of local lodging, and confirmed that around 4,000 to 5,000 rooms across hotels, inns, pension houses, condominiums, and Airbnb units are available for the delegates. | TMD
