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, a press release from the Bacolod City Communications Office said.
Mayor Greg Gasataya confirmed initial meetings with the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and stakeholders, expressing Bacolod’s readiness to host the national youth games to PSC chairman John Patrick Gregorio.
This week, a PSC inspection team arrived in Bacolod and paid a courtesy call to Gasataya before commencing an on-site assessment of local sports facilities. The assessment includes the new P241-million Multi-Purpose Center and Skatepark in Barangay Vista Alegre, and potential competition and billeting venues like Bata Elementary School.
The PSC delegation will also evaluate venues in Victorias City, a co-host for Batang Pinoy. The inspection and evaluation will continue until October 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 nga ang focus ni Bacolod on the aspect of tourism is not only food but also sports,” Gasataya said.
He also recalled Bacolod City as the inaugural host of Batang Pinoy in 1999, expressing enthusiasm about its return to the City of Smiles.
Executive assistant Rhett Demonteverde highlighted Bacolod’s growing potential as a sports hub, emphasizing 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.
“We are very hopeful they will give Bacolod the hosting of Batang Pinoy 2026, we have been preparing the facilities, we are doing our best for it,” the mayor said.
If selected, Bacolod anticipates a busy sporting calendar in 2026, with Batang Pinoy coinciding with the MassKara Festival in October and the UniGames, hosted by private universities in Bacolod.
Established under Executive Order No. 44 in 1998, the Batang Pinoy National Championships, organized by the Philippine Sports Commission 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 October 25 to 30.
The city’s efforts to revive its sports legacy include modern facilities like the Multi-Purpose Center and Skatepark in Barangay Vista Alegre. The city government has also prioritized school facility upgrades.*
