• THERESA MAE DULMAN
The City of Bacolod has officially secured the hosting rights for the 2026 Batang Pinoy National Championships following the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement with the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) on May 9.
The national youth sporting event is scheduled for December 12 to 18.
The competition is expected to draw over 15,000 delegates, featuring student-athletes aged 8 to 15 from across the country.
PSC Chairman John Patrick Gregorio said that hosting Batang Pinoy fosters grassroots athletic development while serving as an economic driver, as visiting athletes and their supporters contribute to local business activity.
The city hosted the inaugural edition of the Batang Pinoy in 1999, as well as the 2001 and 2014 editions.
In addition to the championship hosting, the PSC revealed plans to explore the establishment of regional training hubs for archery and baseball in the city, citing the high potential of local talent.*
