A Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) inspection team arrived in Bacolod City this week to conduct an on-site assessment of facilities as the city vies to host the 2026 Batang Pinoy National Championships.
This marks 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 on Thursday, October 9.
The PSC delegation, which will also evaluate venues in Victorias City, a co-host, paid a courtesy call to Mayor Greg Gasataya before beginning their assessment, which runs until Saturday October 11.
Gasataya confirmed initial meetings with the PSC and stakeholders, expressing Bacolod’s readiness to host the national youth games to PSC Chairman John Patrick Gregorio.
The inspection includes an assessment of the new ₱241-million Multi-Purpose Center and Skatepark in Barangay Vista Alegre, as well as potential competition and billeting venues such as Bata Elementary School.
Gasataya is optimistic that the forthcoming completion of the Bacolod Coliseum will boost the city’s hosting bid, calling it a “game-changer”, the press release said.
“Sports development remains one of the flagship programs of my administration… As what we’ve committed, the focus of Bacolod on the aspect of tourism is not only food but also sports,” Gasataya said.
He also recalled that Bacolod City served as the inaugural host of Batang Pinoy in 1999, expressing enthusiasm about its potential 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.
If selected, Bacolod anticipates a busy sporting calendar in October 2026, with Batang Pinoy potentially coinciding with the MassKara Festival and the UniGames.
Established under Executive Order No. 44 in 1998, the Batang Pinoy National Championships is organized by the Philippine Sports Commission for athletes 17 years old and below and is inclusive of 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.
These efforts align with Gasataya’s vision to position Bacolod as a premier sports and events capital in Western Visayas, the press release said.*