Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya has announced plans for a dedicated 7,490-square-meter football pitch at the Bacolod City National High School (BCNHS) oval, with full funding of 50 million pesos provided by the city government. The project was revealed during a send-off event for the city’s sports delegates, where the mayor noted that many young local athletes currently travel outside Bacolod for training and matches. “We know there are a lot of teams in Bacolod and some of them are playing outside the city, so by having this quality turf it can help the athletes and can attract more competitions here in the city.” The FIFA-standard facility will feature artificial turf and professional-grade lighting, making it Bacolod’s first city-constructed football venue designed to boost grassroots sports and enable local teams to train within the city. Groundbreaking is scheduled for the first or early second week of March, pending release of the Notice to Proceed (NTP), according to City Engineer Loben Rafael Ceballos. “As soon as we receive the NTP, we will start construction. The exact timeline depends on its issuance,” Ceballos said. City officials state the initiative aims to nurture athletic talent, strengthen sports development across the community, and position Bacolod as a destination for regional and national competitions. (Bacolod City Communications Office)