P500-Million Coliseum Fund Explained by Leni Robredo
LENI ROBREDO – The mayor of Naga City has explained the P500-million national government funding for the rehabilitation of the Jesse M. Robredo Coliseum following questions about the project.
The coliseum was built in 2009 and opened in 2010 as the Naga City Coliseum. It was renamed Jesse M. Robredo Coliseum in 2012 following the death of former Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo in a plane crash.
Robredo said the facility is often used as an evacuation center during disasters, even though it was not originally designed for that purpose. The need for improvements became more noticeable when Typhoon Kristine hit Naga City in 2024.
After becoming mayor in 2025, Robredo said she immediately looked for funding to rehabilitate the facility. Senator Kiko Pangilinan advised the city to seek assistance through the Local Government Support Fund. The city’s funding request was approved in February 2026. During President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s visit to Naga City, the government turned over P500 million for the project.
Of the total amount, P450 million will be used to rehabilitate and improve the coliseum, while P50 million will fund heavy equipment for the city government, which can also be used for disaster response.
Robredo said the rehabilitation has not yet started because several offices currently occupy the coliseum. These offices are expected to move to another building next month, allowing the project to proceed. The P500-million allocation became a political issue after Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice questioned whether the funding was connected to political support for the Robredo family.
Malacañang denied that the allocation had a political motive and said government assistance to local governments is provided based on their needs and available resources. Robredo has maintained that the funding was sought to address the coliseum’s condition and improve its ability to serve the city, particularly during emergencies and disasters.
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