President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has approved a ₱500-million modernization plan for the Jesse M. Robredo Coliseum in Naga City, aimed at strengthening the facility’s disaster response capabilities.
During his visit, Marcos personally handed over a Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) to Mayor Leni Robredo and inspected ongoing Oplan Kontra Baha operations in the flood-prone city.
The coliseum, named after the late former Naga mayor and Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, will undergo extensive retrofitting.
The budget covers structural upgrades, including a community kitchen capable of serving thousands during emergencies, improved sanitation facilities, reinforced roofing, and disaster-resilient enhancements against typhoons and earthquakes.
Plans also include a modern drainage system to prevent flooding inside the complex and designated medical response areas for emergencies.
The project underscores the administration’s push to bolster local disaster preparedness and ensure faster, more effective crisis response in Bicol.