The Jesse M. Robredo Coliseum in Naga City. (Photo from PCO)
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Saturday led the turnover of nearly ₱500 million to fund the long-awaited renovation and retrofitting of the Jesse M. Robredo Coliseum, a facility long regarded as the “Big Dome of the South” and a lifeline for Bicol during calamities.
The funding, released through a Special Allotment Release Order, will bankroll a sweeping modernization of the coliseum, according to the Presidential Communications Office. Marcos personally inspected the venue during his visit to Naga City, underscoring the administration’s push to strengthen disaster preparedness at the local level.
Named after the late mayor Jesse Robredo, the husband of former vice president and current city mayor Leni Robredo, the coliseum is set for upgrades that go beyond aesthetics.
Plans include structural retrofitting, roofing and drainage improvements, expanded sanitation facilities, and the installation of a permanent, industrial-grade community kitchen capable of feeding thousands during emergencies. Dedicated medical response areas will also be added to improve on-site care during crises.
Officials said the overhaul is designed to transform the venue into a more functional evacuation and logistics center, allowing the local government to respond faster and more effectively to disasters while preserving its role as a premier events space.
Built in 2010, the 12,000-seat coliseum has hosted everything from basketball games and concerts to school tournaments and regional gatherings, accommodating up to 15,000 people during standing-room events.
More critically, it has repeatedly doubled as a shelter and relief hub, notably during Super Typhoon Rolly and Typhoon Kristine, as well as several earthquakes, without suffering major structural damage.
During Kristine’s onslaught, the facility remained dry even as large parts of Naga City were inundated, serving as a central staging point for relief operations across Camarines Sur.
Yet officials acknowledged that its resilience also revealed gaps. The coliseum was never designed for prolonged shelter use, with shortages in toilets, showers, laundry areas, and sleeping-friendly spaces, as well as the absence of permanent mass-feeding kitchens.
The planned renovation, the PCO said, aims to address these shortcomings and future-proof the facility, ensuring it can continue to host major events while standing ready as a safe, reliable evacuation and response center for Naga City and neighboring provinces when disasters strike.