Mayor Greg Gasataya gathered city officials and local hospitality leaders for a consultative meeting on Thursday, Aug. 6, to establish an official Accommodation Directory ahead of Bacolod’s hosting of the Batang Pinoy 2026 National Championships from Dec. 12 to 18.
Gasataya, at the meeting held at L’Fisher Hotel in Bacolod City, rallied the support of 209 registered accommodation operators—representing hotels, tourist inns, pension houses, short-term rentals, transient homes, staycation units, and private properties—emphasizing their crucial role in the successful hosting of the national sporting event.
“This is one of the biggest sporting events in the country in terms of delegation,” Gasataya said, underscoring the importance of completing an inventory of all accommodation providers capable of serving the more than 20,000 delegates and guests expected to arrive in Bacolod for the competition.
“The success of the Batang Pinoy is the success of Bacolod City, and that includes all of you,” the mayor added.
During the forum, the Bacolod City Tourism Development Office outlined the event’s projected economic impact and emphasized the need for accommodation operators to complete registration forms to accurately determine the city’s lodging capacity.
The meeting was attended by Councilor Jason Villarosa, Chief Tourism Operations Officer Ma. Teresa Manalili, City Administrator Mark Steven Mayo, Local Economic Development and Investment Promotion Office head Mae Llamas, and lawyer Rhett Demonteverde.
Gasataya and Mayo also assured property owners—including Airbnb operators, condominium unit owners, transient houses, and staycation providers—that the city government would assist them with necessary documentation and permit requirements.
“We are exploring the issuance of special permits, subject to certain conditions, while ensuring compliance with safety and sanitary inspection requirements,” Mayo said, noting that the initiative aims to encourage more accommodation providers to participate in hosting delegates.
The consultative meeting also addressed concerns regarding accommodation rates, safety protocols, reservation systems, and booking logistics to ensure close coordination and unified preparations between the local government and the private hospitality sector ahead of Batang Pinoy 2026.*
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