After 20 years, Bacolod City opens PHP 241-M skate, events hub

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY — Bacolod strengthened its Batang Pinoy 2026 bid with the inauguration of the new Multi-Purpose Center and Bacolod Skate Park in Barangay Vista Alegre on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025.

The PHP 241 million project, initiated in 2023 by the Department of Public Works and Highways Region 6, was officially turned over to Mayor Greg Gasataya by Rep. Alfredo “Albee” Benitez on behalf of the national government.

Both officials highlighted the city’s commitment to building world-class sports facilities and promoting youth development through sports tourism.

The complex includes a two-story sports and events center spanning 3,141 square meters and a 1,355-square-meter skate park, now one of only four major skate parks in the Philippines.

It features a basketball court, multi-purpose hall, rental spaces, ticketing and administrative offices, kitchen and food preparation areas, storage, showers, and laundry facilities designed to host athletic and community activities.

Mayor Gasataya said the new facilities align with his administration’s sports tourism and youth development agenda to ensure the infrastructure will be well used.

“These projects will have a huge impact on the city and our youth, and this will not be a white elephant because Bacolod and Negros Occidental have a strong community of skateboarding and BMX enthusiasts,” he said.

With the completion of these long-awaited projects, Bacolod is positioning itself as a rising hub for youth sports, urban recreation, and sports tourism in Western Visayas, Gasataya said.

For Architect Paulo Gepulango, spokesperson for the BMX and skateboarding community, the opening fulfilled a two-decade dream.

“I’ve been pushing for a skate park since I was in high school,” Gepulango said.

“After 20 years, it has finally become a reality for us, and we’re very thankful to Mayor Greg Gasataya and Congressman Albee Benitez for making this happen,” he said.

He added that hundreds of skateboard and BMX enthusiasts from Bacolod and Negros Occidental now have a permanent venue to train.

“This will serve as a training ground for young talents who may one day represent Bacolod—and even the Philippines—in the Olympics,” he said, noting that skateboarding is now an Olympic sport.

He also said the facility is of standard quality and that he supervised construction to help ensure safety for end users.

Benitez recalled that the project began when national government funds were downloaded to the city during his term as mayor, and he expressed optimism that the facility would reignite interest in skateboarding and other urban sports.

“Their passion is finally back, and we hope Bacolod can soon produce internationally recognized athletes,” he said.

Benitez also said the Bacolod Skate Park is the only skateboarding facility in the province and one of three covered skate parks in the country.

National skateboarder Cindy Lou Serna welcomed the new facility, saying it allows local athletes to train closer to home.

“It’s a big help for the skateboarding community because we no longer need to travel or train far,” said Serna, a member of the national team who previously trained in Manila.

The turnover ceremony was attended by Abang Lingkod Party-list Rep. Manman Ko, Councilors Jason Villarosa and Em Ang, DPWH–Bacolod District Engineer Leah Jamero, DPWH Region 6 Resident Engineer Mark Edwin Jereza, Project Engineer Stephen Abastillas, Architect Paulo Gepulango, and several barangay and city officials.

Background: Batang Pinoy is the Philippine Sports Commission’s grassroots multi-sport program for athletes 15 years old and younger that rotates host cities to promote youth development and sports tourism.