Romualdez leads groundbreaking of convention center in honor of father
TACLOBAN CITY – House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez led the groundbreaking ceremony of the Benjamin Romualdez International Convention Center here on Friday, Feb. 7.
“Today’s groundbreaking ceremony is a special moment…This is not only a reflection of the rich culture of Leyte, our comeback from super typhoon ‘Yolanda’ demonstrates the fortitude and determination of every Taclobanon to rise over setbacks wiser and stronger,” he said.
Named after his late father, the P750-million project funded under the General Appropriations Act 2024 was divided into two phases and will be implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways-Region 8.

BRICC
DPWH-8 Regional Director Edgar Tabacon said the BRICC, situated in a 20,620-square meter lot, aims to be a world-class venue hosting big events. The three-story building can accommodate a total of 2,200 people.
Romualdez asked the DPWH to maximize the capacity of the BRICC to 5,000 in line with the dream of building a five-star hotel in the city.
The project is envisioned to be resilient against strong winds through its unique configuration orientation and wind tunnel support study aligning with the climate of Leyte province.
Its ground area will offer amenities such as retail concourse, food and beverage areas, lounges, large parking spaces, and other utilities.
"More than just an architectural landmark, it is a celebration of history and culture cultural richness of Leyte, and its capital, Tacloban City," Romualdez said.
He added that its design structure is inspired by the "taklob," a highly symbolic object that represents the culture of Leyte. Taklob refers to a traditional bamboo contraption used by fishermen in Leyte to catch crabs, shrimp, and fish.