Courtesy: Leni Robredo FB
Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo has issued a statement surrounding the P500-million national funding allocated for the repair, retrofitting, and upgrading of the Jesse M. Robredo Coliseum.
The mayor's detailed statement comes in the wake of political controversy during congressional budget deliberations, where opposition figures questioned the national government's allocation of funds to the local project.
During House budget hearings on September 17, Caloocan Representative Edgar Erice raised questions about the grant, suggesting that the substantial national funding to Robredo's administration carried political motivations.
Malacañang quickly rejected accusations of politicking, saying the fund was granted based on disaster vulnerability and public safety requirements rather than political alliances.
Courtesy: Leni Robredo FB
In a statement released on social media, Robredo clarified that the funding was requested out of urgent local necessity following severe weather impacts on the city.
"The Coliseum was constructed in 2009 and opened in 2010... After my husband died in August 2012, the Sangguniang Panlungsod passed Ordinance 2012-043 renaming it to Jesse M. Robredo Coliseum," Robredo said.
Courtesy: Leni Robredo FB
While built with a 12,000-seat capacity for sports, conventions, and concerts—making it the largest indoor venue in Southern Luzon—frequent typhoons turned the coliseum into Naga’s primary evacuation facility.
Crucial infrastructure gaps for long-term disaster response—such as ground-floor toilets susceptible to flooding, a lack of communal kitchens, and limited tent spaces—became more obvious after the destruction brought by Typhoon Kristine.
Upon taking office in 2025, Robredo sought funding for the major overhaul. Acting on advice from Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan, the city applied for Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) assistance.
Courtesy: Leni Robredo FB
"As soon as I assumed office in 2025, I tried to look for funding already for its rehabilitation. It was difficult because of the big amount that is required. Senator Kiko Pangilinan advised me that we could apply for LGSF Funding because of the nature of the project, which we did," Robredo added.
By early February 2026, the request received approval in principle. On February 23, 2026, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. personally visited Naga City to turn over the Special Allotment Release Order (SARO), which included:
-P450 million for the retrofitting, structural strengthening, and repair of the coliseum
-P50 million for heavy equipment to boost the city's overall disaster resilience and response capabilities
Addressing questions regarding why physical construction had not yet commenced despite receiving the SARO earlier in the year, Robredo explained that multiple government and non-government agencies holding offices inside the coliseum needed temporary relocation first.
Courtesy: Leni Robredo FB
"The Balatas Building that will serve as their temporary offices will only be ready by October so we scheduled the bidding September. Right now, we are already in the post-qualification stage and, hopefully, construction can start within the month of October," Robredo explained.
Robredo noted that her decision to withhold a public response until after the conclusion of the Peñafrancia Fiesta was aimed at keeping public focus on traditional religious observances before addressing civic and political matters.
