Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya is optimistic about getting the sports facilities in the city ready for the city’s hosting of the Batang Pinoy 2026 in December, particularly the Bacolod MassKara Coliseum.

As of yesterday, the P850-million indoor arena located at the boundary of Alijis and Tangub is under construction, with 76 percent completion reported this June.

In a statement, Gasataya said the coliseum is expected to be completed in the third quarter of the year.

“Bacolod is all in when it comes to hosting Batang Pinoy,” he said.

Gasataya joined the Philippine Sports Commission officials led by Chairman John Patrick Gregorio, as well as executives from the Department of Education and Department of the Interior and Local Government, in sharing preparation updates during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum in Manila on Tuesday, June 23.

Set from December 12 to 18, this year’s Batang Pinoy is expected to draw more than 15,000 delegates, featuring student-athletes aged eight to 15 from across the country.

“It’s important to note how involved the mayor and governor are because if there is commitment, it will surely happen,” Gregorio said.

Batang Pinoy 2026 will feature 30 sports disciplines, including golf, skateboarding, bowling, and baseball.

Other events are archery, arnis, aquatics, athletics, badminton, basketball, boxing, chess, cycling, dance sport, futsal, gymnastics, jiu-jitsu, judo, karate, kickboxing, Muay Thai, pencak silat, sepak takraw, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling and wushu.

Gasataya underscored the strong private sector support for the event, adding that more than 4,000 hotel rooms and rental accommodations are available to delegates and visitors.

This year will be the fourth time Bacolod will host the Batang Pinoy, after hosting the inaugural games in 1999, as well as in 2001 and 2013. (PNA)