• THERESA MAE DULMAN
Mayor Greg Gasataya said that Bacolod City has set 2026 as a landmark year for sports tourism, citing a calendar densely packed with premier sporting events.
Gasataya confirmed that Bacolod will serve as the host for the inaugural Negros Island Region Athletics Association Meet in February 2026.
In May, Bacolod will host the National Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) Game, an event expected to draw over 10,000 student-athletes from across the Philippines.
The competition will be a collaborative effort, with the city co-hosting alongside STI West Negros University and the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental.
The Mayor also announced that Bacolod will debut its first-ever sports expo in June, attracting various sports-related industries and companies to the city, while simultaneously holding various sports competitions.
To cap off the year, the final quarter will see the return of Batang Pinoy, the Philippine Youth Games, which is expected to bring thousands more student-athletes, coaches, and spectators to the local stage.
“This is one of our priorities for 2026 as it will definitely boost our economy. If there are sports events such as this in the city of Bacolod, […] then everybody is going to benefit,” Gasataya said, noting an expected surge of customers in hotel accommodations, restaurants, and the transportation sector.*
