Tacloban City is set to host a new international convention center, the Benjamin Romualdez International Convention Center (BRICC), which will boast a seating capacity of 5,000. The groundbreaking ceremony, led by House Speaker and Leyte 1st district Representative Martin Romualdez, took place on February 7, 2025, at the site of the former Leyte Park Hotel complex on Magsaysay Boulevard. The three-story structure will occupy a 20,620-square-meter plot and is expected to cost PHP750 million, according to preliminary feasibility studies by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). Named after Benjamin Romualdez, father of the House Speaker and a former governor of Leyte and Philippine Ambassador to the US, the center aims to be a world-class venue for events. A five-star hotel will also be constructed adjacent to the convention center to cater to visitors’ needs. Romualdez expressed optimism about the project, highlighting its significance as a symbol of recovery and progress following Super Typhoon Yolanda. The project is slated for completion within three years, with the first phase allocated PHP500 million and the second phase PHP250 million. The BRICC will feature a range of amenities including retail spaces, food and beverage areas, lounges, and ample parking. The upper floors will serve as multi-purpose venues with seating for large gatherings, including mezzanines, plenary areas, and additional lounges and retail spaces. The center is designed to be community-focused, safe, sustainable, and resilient, reflecting the culture and spirit of Tacloban. The development is part of a broader effort to enhance the region’s infrastructure and attract national and international events. The site, previously home to the Leyte Park Resort Hotel built by Imelda Marcos, has been under various government entities since the Edsa People Power Revolution in 1986. The hotel was eventually leased to a private company in 1994, which later closed it down in 2021 to focus on a new property.
