Manila: Malaca±ang on Thursday denied allegations that political considerations motivated the government's allocation of PHP500 million for the retrofitting of the Jesse M. Robredo Coliseum (JMRC) in Naga City. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro emphasized that government assistance to local government units (LGUs) is not based on political affiliation, highlighting that Naga City is not the only local government to have received assistance from the administration.
According to Philippines News Agency, Castro clarified in a Palace press conference that assistance to LGUs is based on their needs and the government's capacity to respond. "Ang pagtulong po sa local government, wala po itong pinipili, kung ano 'yung kailangan ng local government, 'yun po ang puwedeng matugunan kung kakayanin (Assistance to local governments is not selective. Whatever a local government needs is what can be provided, as long as the government has the capacity to do so)," she said.
The statement came after Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice questioned the distribution of funds under the Local Government Support Fund and alleged that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. appeared to be courting former vice president and now Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo to become an administration ally. Castro slammed Erice's 'malicious' allegation, calling it 'very irresponsible' for the lawmaker to make such a statement. "Saan niya po nakuha iyong ganoong klaseng mga opinyon o 'yung mga ganoong klaseng pag-iisip (Where did he get that kind of opinion or come up with that kind of thinking)?" she said.
She urged critics to first seek clarification before making statements about the government's assistance to LGUs. "Hindi porke't si dating bise presidente Leni Robredo, now Mayor Leni Robredo ng Naga City, ay nabigyan ng ganitong klaseng pagtulong, namumulitika na? Binibigyan na ng malisya? (Just because former vice president Leni Robredo, now Mayor Leni Robredo of Naga City, received this kind of assistance, does that automatically make it political? Does it mean we should impute malicious intent to it)?" she said.
Castro further added, "Huwag nating bigyan ng masamang interpretasyon ang ginagawang magandang ugnayan ng national government sa local government. Hindi lahat ng ginagawa ng national government ay puro pamumulitika katulad nang ginagawa nila (Let us not put a negative interpretation on the good relationship between the national and local governments. Not everything the national government does is about politics, as they seem to make it out to be)."
In February 2026, Marcos led the turnover of about PHP500 million to Naga City through a Special Allotment Release Order for the retrofitting and modernization of the coliseum. The project includes the installation of a community kitchen capable of feeding thousands of people during disasters, improvements to sanitation facilities, roofing system upgrades, and structural strengthening.
The JMRC, also known as the Big Dome of the South, was built in 2010 during the term of the late Jesse Robredo, Robredo's husband, as Naga City mayor. The coliseum has a seating capacity of approximately 12,000 and can accommodate up to 15,000 people for standing-room events. It regularly hosts basketball games, concerts, school tournaments, and major cultural gatherings in the region.
Over the years, the JMRC has served as a critical evacuation and relief center. It withstood powerful typhoons, including Super Typhoon Rolly in 2020 and Typhoon Kristine in 2024, as well as several earthquakes, without sustaining major structural damage.
