Bacolod to host ‘Batang Pinoy’ this November

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Sports Commission has tapped Bacolod City as new site for the Batang Pinoy national finals slated Nov. 19-23 after deciding to pull the youth games out of crisis-hit Zamboanga City.

"Bacolod has a proven track record in hosting major events and the city is close to Mindanao and Visayas, making it accessible to athletes from those areas," PSC Commissioner and Batang Pinoy in-charge Jolly Gomez said in a press briefing Friday.

Gomez added that Bacolod has a "nostalgic" connection to the Batang Pinoy, being the site of the joust for athletes aged 15 and under when it was launched in 1998 and, that the commissioner who was instrumental in bringing the program to fruition back then, Monico Puentevella, now sits as the mayor.

According to Gomez, the PSC decided to relocate the games in consideration of the situation in Zamboanga and concerns of participants over security.

"There's a great economic loss in Zamboanga, great damage to properties and the officials are rebuilding the city. The track oval is also being used as evacuation center and it will take funds and manpower to put it back to standard," said Gomez.

"We also responded to the concerns of many parents and officials from other cities with regards to security and safety. This, however, does not mean we're closing the doors on Zamboanga (in hosting sports programs of the PSC in the future)," he added.