By Nimfa L. Estrellado The City Convention Center is declared fully operational during the regular session of the Sangguniang Panlungsod ng ...
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| The City Convention Center is declared fully operational during the regular session of the Sangguniang Panlungsod ng Lucena on Feb. 9, 2026, marking a key milestone in the city’s infrastructure and tourism development program. (Mayor Mark) |
LUCENA CITY, Quezon - After years of construction and planning, the Lucena Convention Center has entered full operation, opening a new chapter for large-scale events and tourism-driven growth in the city. Now fully operational and market-ready, the facility marks a major milestone in the city’s infrastructure and economic development program.
With operations now in place, the convention center is complete and ready to host conferences, sports events, exhibitions, and large public gatherings, on par with other venues in the province and the CALABARZON region. Its operational launch was formally announced during the regular session of the Sangguniang Panlungsod ng Lucena on February 9, 2026, following council deliberations on measures governing the facility’s use and operations.
A comparison of rental fees showed that the city’s convention center charges lower rates than nearby facilities, making it more attractive to event organizers. The pricing is intended to encourage more bookings while helping cover operating and maintenance costs.
Mayor Mark Alcala said the opening of the convention center is expected to boost tourism, hospitality, and related services, while providing the city with a permanent venue for major public and private events. He added that the facility is a long-term investment meant to support local businesses and expand opportunities for meetings, conventions, and exhibitions.
“With the facility now fully operational, our focus is to market it aggressively while maintaining quality service, this approach is intended to attract regional and national events while ensuring a high standard of operations for all users,” Alcala said.
Alcala said the city views the convention center as a core public asset designed to deliver long-term value rather than short-term gains. He said its role extends beyond hosting events to supporting community access, business activity, and city branding.
“This convention center represents our commitment to long-term development and smart investment in public infrastructure. We want it to be a venue that communities can access and businesses can rely on. Over time, we expect it to strengthen the city’s reputation as a destination for major gatherings,” Alcala said.
To support operations, the city council approved an ordinance setting rental rates and basic operating rules for the convention center. The ordinance covers the use of the atrium, sports arena, meeting rooms, parking areas, equipment, and office spaces.
Discounted rental rates are available for public schools, nonprofit institutions, religious groups, civic organizations, and people’s organizations. The ordinance also allows the mayor to approve additional discounts for events that provide clear benefits to residents.
The measure also created a Convention Center Management Committee chaired by the mayor, with members from tourism, engineering, finance, legal, and culture offices. The committee will oversee daily operations, maintenance, promotion, and regular reviews of rental rates.
Together, these measures place the convention center on a stable operating path while strengthening the city’s position as a venue for conferences, sports events, and cultural activities. The facility is expected to contribute to sustained local revenue and support the city’s long-term development goals.
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