BACOLOD CITY – The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) will oversee the construction of a FIFA-standard, full-sized football pitch at the Bacolod City National High School oval, a project that supports PFF’s goal of building modern football pitches of all sizes in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
“Every Filipino child who wants to play football should have access to a safe, well-built pitch. We are working with local governments, schools and national agencies to build pitches of different sizes in every region. Bacolod shows what can be done when a city, PFF, and its partners share that goal,” said PFF President John Anthony Gutierrez.
The 7,490-square meter pitch has artificial turf and professional-grade lighting. It is Bacolod’s first football venue built by the city government led by Mayor Greg Gasataya. PFF Technical Development Officer Rey Ritaga is supervising the project on behalf of the Federation, and the facility is to be ready for the Batang Pinoy 2026, which Bacolod will host from December 12 to 18.
PFF found that the pitch meets FIFA standards. It is also the first in the country with hoist lighting, which lets the lights be raised and lowered, a feature that can make maintenance easier. Three of the six light towers already have LED lights installed.
“We are happy to note that according to the PFF, we were able to meet the FIFA standards. In addition, the PFF said that our football field is the first in the country to be equipped with hoist lighting to make it easier to raise and lower the lights,” said Mayor Gasataya.
“This is the first in the Philippines to have lights with [an] ‘elevator.’ It would be easy to move up and pull down the lights unlike in other stadiums where the lights are fixed. Na-meet naman lahat ng FIFA standards,” Ritaga said.
Batang Pinoy is the Philippine Sports Commission’s (PSC) national grassroots competition for athletes aged 8 to 15. Gutierrez said a quality facility lets young players compete on a proper surface, and it continues to serve the community after the Games.
“The value of a pitch is in how long it is used. After Batang Pinoy, we want players, schools, and clubs in Bacolod and across Negros to keep training and playing on it. We thank Mayor Greg Gasataya and the City of Bacolod for investing in football, and we will keep supporting local governments that want to do the same,” Gutierrez said.
Earlier in 2026, PFF has inaugurated two FIFA Arenas in Balanga, Bataan and Puerto Princesa, Palawan; and AFF-funded half-pitch in Tagum, Davao del Norte; and a Filinvest Land-funded pitch in Leganes, Iloilo while construction of full-sized pitches in Baguio City, Benguet and Naga City, Camarines Sur are under way in partnership with PSC and their respective local governments.
(Photo by the Bacolod City Communications Office)
