Dumaguete now rising as pickleball capital

DUMAGUETE CITY — From humble grassroots beginnings to a full-blown sports movement, Dumaguete City is rapidly carving its identity as the Pickleball Capital of the Philippines.

With more than 300 courts spread across the city and thousands more throughout Negros Oriental, the sport has become a vibrant part of community life, uniting generations, families, and neighborhoods.

This surge of enthusiasm has not gone unnoticed: the Philippine Sports Commission, led by chairman Patrick Gregorio, has pledged strong commitment and support, ensuring that Dumaguete’s rise in pickleball is matched by the development of world-class facilities for football, track and field, archery, and other disciplines.

Together, the local leadership led by Negros Oriental Governor Chaco Sagarbarria, Dumaguete City Mayor Manuel “Chiquiting’’ Sagarbarria and Congresswoman Maisa Sagarbarria, and national backing are positioning this city not only as a pickleball powerhouse but as a model hub for holistic sports development in the country.