Marcos turns over P500M for modernization of Jesse M. Robredo Coliseum

NAGA CITY, Camarines Sur — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Saturday turned over a Special Allotment Release Order worth P500 million to fund the retrofitting and modernization of the Jesse M. Robredo Coliseum (JMRC) in Naga City, Camarines Sur.

Marcos was accompanied by his former rival and now Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo during an inspection of the structure.

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Tagged as “The Big Dome of the South,” the 12,000-seater coliseum was built under the leadership of then-Mayor Jesse Robredo to decentralize major events from Metro Manila. It was formally inaugurated in September 2010.

Following the mayor’s death in 2012, the Naga City Council passed City Ordinance No. 2012-043 renaming the coliseum after the former official.

Aside from hosting events, the JMRC also served as a regional logistics hub and evacuation center whenever calamity hit Bicol. However, the coliseum sustained damage as it was not designed for prolonged human stay.

READ: Robredo: Talk of presidential bid a ‘disservice’ to Naga constituents

The revamp of the JMRC will include 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 establishment of dedicated medical response areas for emergencies.

After the event, Marcos proceeded to Sagop Creek in Barangay Triangulo and Sitio Magaya-gaya Creek in Barangay Concepcion Pequeña to inspect the implementation of the “Oplan Kontra Baha” project. /das