Bacolod speeds up BP preparations

BACOLOD City is ramping up preparations for the Batang Pinoy (BP) National Championships, with organizers expecting as many as 36,000 athletes, coaches, officials and companions to arrive for the weeklong competition in December.

City Administrator Atty. Mark Mayo said preparations have been underway for months, with local committees coordinating with the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the national secretariat.

Security and accommodation remain the city’s top priorities, particularly with younger athletes expected to travel with parents and other family members.

“Bacolod is very much prepared and, more so, very excited for the hosting of Batang Pinoy 2026,” Mayo said.

“We were told by chairman Pato (Patrick Gregorio) himself that Batang Pinoy is even bigger than Palarong Pambansa.”

The championships will run from 12 to 18 December, with 207 local government units confirmed to participate. Pasig City will seek a third straight overall title.

The competition will feature 30 sports across around 25 venues, including Panaad Park and Stadium, which will host six events, among them athletics and swimming.

Bacolod will also use its new skate park, basketball facilities and private venues, while some competitions will be staged in nearby Talisay City.

Mayo said billeting schools are ready to accommodate athletes, while the city is taking inventory of hotels, condominiums and other lodging facilities in Bacolod and neighboring areas.

The hosting is also expected to generate economic activity for local businesses, including hotels, restaurants, transport operators, micro, small and medium enterprises, and ambulant vendors.

“We’re looking at the economic side. The benefits will ripple through the community,” Mayo said.