Bacolod gears up for 35,894 Batang Pinoy delegates

BACOLOD CITY — With preparations in full swing, the Bacolod City government is gearing up to welcome 35,894 delegates from 207 participating local government units (LGUs) for the 17th edition of Batang Pinoy, scheduled from Dec. 12 to 18, 2026.

Based on official figures from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), the expected turnout includes 27,763 athletes, 6,144 coaches, and 1,987 delegation officials.

The influx of participants is expected to boost local tourism and businesses while placing greater demand on accommodation, transportation, security, and other services during the weeklong national youth sports competition.

The PSC, led by Chairman John Patrick “Pato” Gregorio, held a coordination meeting with Mayor Greg Gasataya and key agencies at L’Fisher Hotel on Wednesday, Oct. 28, to finalize preparations for the much-anticipated return of the country’s flagship national youth multisport competition to the City of Smiles.

The meeting focused on logistics, venue security, billeting, and on-site arrangements for the games.

The meeting also formalized the city’s local delegation leadership, with Councilor Jason Villarosa designated as head of delegation and City Administrator Mark Steven Mayo as assistant head of delegation.

Technical teams reviewed the PSC’s Batang Pinoy Games Management System (GMS), a centralized online platform designed to streamline registration, athlete validation, identification card issuance, billeting, financial processing, and competition scheduling.

The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) also presented security deployment and contingency plans covering competition venues, billeting facilities, and transportation routes to safeguard athletes, coaches, officials, and guests throughout the event.

The preparations are particularly important given the projected attendance, which requires coordination among national agencies, local government offices, security personnel, and event organizers.

“This is not just a simple hosting. This is a hosting to excite the Filipino youth. This one is our gift for them,” Gregorio said, adding that he expects hotels and other accommodation facilities to be fully occupied during the event.

Gasataya highlighted the city’s track record of hosting major sporting competitions this year as Bacolod prepares for the national event.

The city hosted the inaugural Negros Island Regional Athletic Association Meet (NIRAAM) earlier this year.

In May, Bacolod also co-hosted the National Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) Games with the provincial government and STI West Negros University.

This was followed by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) U18 Women’s Asia Cup Southeast Asia Basketball Association (SEABA) Qualifiers in June.

“We know that it has been around 20 years since Bacolod last hosted Batang Pinoy,” Gasataya said.

Bacolod hosted the inaugural Batang Pinoy in 1999 and again in 2001 and 2013, making the 2026 competition its fourth time hosting the national youth sports event.

Gasataya thanked the PSC and other stakeholders for their guidance and support in ensuring the successful staging of Batang Pinoy 2026.

Established in 1999, Batang Pinoy is one of the PSC’s flagship grassroots sports development programs, providing young Filipino athletes with opportunities to compete at the national level and develop their sporting potential.

The 2026 competition is open to athletes ages 8 to 15 and will feature 30 sports disciplines, including newly added events such as baseball, bowling, golf, and skateboarding.

The program has helped develop athletes who later achieved international recognition, including Olympic weightlifting champion Hidilyn Diaz and world gymnastics champion Carlos Yulo.

Meanwhile, Bacolod’s hosting will also feature the first simultaneous Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) Parade of Stars, adding an entertainment attraction to the city’s December events.

The city government earlier announced plans to synchronize the MMFF parade with the opening ceremonies of Batang Pinoy on Dec. 12, bringing together athletes, film personalities, and spectators for the dual celebration.

The combined events are expected to draw additional visitors and create opportunities for local hotels, restaurants, transportation providers, and other tourism-related businesses.

For Bacolod, the hosting of Batang Pinoy represents another opportunity to strengthen its reputation as a regional sports tourism destination while supporting the development of the country’s next generation of athletes.