President Bongbong Marcos turned over P500 million on Saturday for the modernization of the Jesse M. Robredo Coliseum in Naga City, setting in motion a major rehabilitation of one of Bicol’s largest indoor arenas.
The ceremony was held at the coliseum complex in Camarines Sur, where national and local officials gathered for the release of funds. The amount will finance structural retrofitting, facility upgrades, and improvements aimed at strengthening the venue’s ability to host large-scale events and operate as an evacuation center during calamities.
Referred to locally as the “Big Dome of the South,” the coliseum serves as a key venue for sports tournaments, concerts, political assemblies, and community gatherings across the region. During typhoons and other disasters, it converts into a temporary shelter and relief operations hub for affected residents.
The arena carries the name of former Interior Secretary and longtime Naga mayor Jesse Robredo. After his death in a plane crash in 2012, the Naga City Council approved City Ordinance No. 2012-043, formally renaming the coliseum in his honor. The move recognized his years of public service and deep ties to the city.
The newly released P500 million will fund upgrades to the building’s structure and core facilities. Improvements are expected to focus on safety compliance, durability, and overall modernization of the aging complex.
Local officials acknowledged the funding as a long-awaited step toward improving a heavily used public facility. While no target completion date was announced, coordination between national agencies and the city government is expected to begin as preparations move forward.
The modernization project places renewed attention on a landmark that remains central to civic life in Naga and the broader Bicol region.
