Bacolod is vying to host the Batang Pinoy National Championships in 2026, marking a potential return of the premier grassroots sports event to the city after more than a decade.
Mayor Greg Gasataya confirmed initial meetings with the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and stakeholders, and expressed Bacolod’s readiness to host the national youth games to PSC chairman John Patrick Gregorio.
A PSC inspection team arrived in Bacolod and paid a courtesy call on Gasataya Oct. 9, before conducting an on-site assessment of local sports facilities, including the newly-opened P241-million Multi-Purpose Center and Skatepark in Barangay Vista Alegre, and potential competition and billeting venues, like the Bata Elementary School.
The PSC delegation is also evaluating venues in Victorias City, a co-host for Batang Pinoy, the city said in a press release, adding that the inspection and assessment will continue until today, Oct. 11.
Gasataya is optimistic that the completion of the Bacolod Coliseum will boost the city’s hosting bid, calling it a “game-changer”.
“Sports development remains one of the flagship programs of my administration. As what we’ve committed, our focus on the aspect of tourism is not only on food but also sports,” the mayor stressed.
He recalled that Bacolod was the inaugural host of Batang Pinoy in 1999, and he expressed enthusiasm about its potential return to the City of Smiles.
Executive assistant, Atty. Rhett Demonteverde, highlighted Bacolod’s growing potential as a sports hub, and emphasized that investments in sports infrastructure reflect a long-term vision for youth empowerment and economic growth.
“There’s a very big chance that Bacolod will be chosen as host for Batang Pinoy next year. We have the facilities, the logistics, and the people ready to support an event of this scale,” Demonteverde said.
Gasataya added: “We are very hopeful nga ihatag nila sa Bacolod ang Batang Pinoy 2026, we have been preparing the facilities, we are doing our best for it.”
The city’s efforts to revive its sports legacy include the establishment of modern facilities, like the Multi-Purpose Center and Skatepark, and school facility upgrades.
Gasataya reiterated that these developments align with Bacolod’s vision to become a premier sports and events capital in Western Visayas, and to position the highly-urbanized city as a leader in sports tourism and youth development.
Established under Executive Order 44 in 1998, the Batang Pinoy National Championships, organized by the PSC for athletes 17 years old and below, is inclusive, allowing participation from out-of-school youth and athletes from marginalized sectors.
The PSC will announce the next host city after the 2025 national games in General Santos City, scheduled for Oct. 25-30. ||
