Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman John Patrick Gregorio lauded Bacolod City on Saturday, May 9, for intensifying the city’s sports tourism initiatives and strengthening its position as one of the country’s emerging sports destinations.
During the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement for Bacolod City’s hosting of the 2026 Batang Pinoy National Championships on December 12-18, Gregorio recognized Bacolod’s continued investment in grassroots sports development and sports infrastructure, which he said significantly contributes to tourism growth and economic activity.
“The positioning of Bacolod as a sports destination and now as a tourism destination is a perfect combination. You can’t go wrong,” Gregorio said, emphasizing how the city’s renowned food culture and hospitality make Bacolod an ideal venue for major sporting events such as Batang Pinoy 2026.
More than 15,000 delegates are expected to participate in the national youth sports competition. The event will feature student-athletes aged 8 to 15 from across the country.
Because athletes as young as 8 cannot travel by themselves, they would come with other family members, which could triple the number of arrivals to 45,000, he noted.
“You can just imagine the economic benefits that sports can bring to your destination. Don’t let go of this opportunity,” Gregorio said.
Mayor Greg Gasataya thanked the PSC for choosing Bacolod as host of the Batang Pinoy Games. The city previously hosted the inaugural edition of the national youth competition in 1999, as well as the succeeding editions in 2001 and 2014.
“The only thing we want to happen is for Bacolod City to produce the next Olympian. That is why we are giving our full commitment and doing everything we can to support our athletes,” Gasataya said.
Aside from granting Bacolod the hosting rights for Batang Pinoy 2026, the PSC is also exploring the establishment of a regional training hub for archery and baseball in the city, citing the abundance of promising local talent in both sports.*
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