PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Saturday (Feb. 21) led the turnover of about P500 million for the renovation and retrofitting of the Jesse M. Robredo Coliseum (JMRC) in Naga City.
The funding requirement for the facility upgrade was released through a Special Allotment Release Order, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said.
Marcos visited Naga City to inspect the JMRC, which was named after the late Naga City Mayor and Interior and Local Government secretary Jesse Robredo, husband of former vice president and now city Mayor Leni Robredo.
The PCO said the allocated budget will cover the retrofitting and modernization of the coliseum, including the installation of a community kitchen capable of feeding thousands during disasters, improvements to sanitation facilities, roofing system upgrades, and structural strengthening.
“The funds would also cover the enhancements of the drainage system to prevent flooding and the addition of dedicated medical response areas for emergencies,” it said. “The initiative aims to strengthen the local government’s capacity to plan and respond swiftly and effectively during natural disasters and other crises.”
The coliseum, also known as the Big Dome of the South was built in 2010 during the term of the late Robredo. It has a seating capacity of approximately 12,000 and can accommodate up to 15,000 for standing-room events. It regularly hosts basketball games, concerts, school tournaments and major cultural gatherings in the region.
Over the years, the JMRC has served as a critical evacuation and relief center, which withstood powerful typhoons, including Super Typhoon Rolly in 2020 and Typhoon Kristine in 2024, as well as several earthquakes, without sustaining major structural damage.
“So we are sure and we have it now. This is a huge thing for us because we know that the coliseum is the biggest evacuation center and its location is next to the three most flood-prone barangays here,” Robredo said in an interview. “It is still a coliseum but it will be redesigned so that during calamities, evacuees will be comfortable because the original design was really just for the coliseum.”
Robredo said that during the recent visit of Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon, they discussed the condition of the coliseum.
The PCO noted that during Kristine’s onslaught, the coliseum remained dry while much of Naga City experienced flooding, functioning as a logistics hub for relief distribution across Camarines Sur. However, the facility was not originally designed for prolonged use as a shelter despite its resilience.
“Recent disasters exposed several limitations, including insufficient toilets, showers and laundry areas, the absence of permanent industrial-grade kitchens for mass feeding, and fixed seating that makes it difficult to sleep during disasters,” the PCO said.
“The planned renovation will ensure that the coliseum remains a safe and dependable facility serving both as a premier events venue and an evacuation center for the people of Naga and nearby provinces.”
Source: PNA
