Maguindanao del Sur Provincial Capitol
| Maguindanao del Sur Provincial Capitol | |
|---|---|
Interactive map of Maguindanao del Sur Provincial Capitol | |
| Former names | Maguindanao Provincial Capitol (2019–2022) |
| Alternative names | White House |
| General information | |
| Location | Buluan, Maguindanao del Sur, Philippines |
| Coordinates | 6°42′50.6″N 124°47′02.7″E / 6.714056°N 124.784083°E |
| Groundbreaking | 2016 |
| Inaugurated | February 2019 |
| Cost | ₱500 million |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 2 |
The Maguindanao del Sur Provincial Capitol is a government building Buluan, Maguindanao del Sur.
It served as the seat of government of the undivided Maguindanao province from 2018. It became the seat of Maguindanao del Sur in 2022.
History
Shariff Aguak capitols
The first capitol of Maguindanao province was Shariff Aguak. However the capitol of the province was moved to Sultan Kudarat town after the People Power Revolution.[1] Under Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr., the province was governed from Shariff Aguak once again.[2] He last held office from the Shariff Aguak Maguindanao capitol which was occupied around 2007 was abandoned after the Maguindanao massacre of 2009.[3][4]
Current structure
Move of Maguindanao capital to Buluan
Under Esmael Mangudadatu who was elected as governor in 2010, the capitol was abandoned taking office in his hometown of Buluan instead.[5]
Construction and inauguration
Construction of a new capitol building in Buluan began in 2016.[6] It was built at the cost of ₱500 million and was inaugurated by President Rodrigo Duterte in February 2019.[7][8]
Governor Mariam Mangudadatu moved to the old capitol in Shariff Aguak in 2019 wnere she briefly held office.[9][7] She proposed to convert the Buluan building into a hospitall.[10]
Maguindanao was dissolved in 2022 after a plebiscite and it was split into two provinces; Maguindanao del Sur and Maguindanao del Norte. Maguindanao del Sur has Buluan designated as its seat of government.[11][12] The Maguindanao capitol in Buluan became the capitol of newly formed Maguindanao del Sur.[13]
Architecture and design
The Maguindanao del Sur capitol was designed by local architects.[6] The capitol is nicknamed the "White House", since its propenents designed the building to resemble the American building of the same name although it is arguably resembles the United States Capitol for having a dome structure.[14] It is reportedly a result of Maguindanao Esmael Mangudadatu's request to architect Evan Torollo to design the capitol after the US White House to honor his childhood dream to visit the US landmark.[15]
The main capitol building has two floors and has a total floor area of 6,000 square meters (65,000 sq ft). The whole capitol complex is 5 hectares (12 acres).[15]
References
- ^ Unson, John (January 19, 2016). "Maguindanao gov't starts construction of new capitol complex". The Philippine Star. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
- ^ Lingao, Ed. "The Clan Politics of ARMM Maguindanao's misery: Absentee officials, absence of rage, poverty" (PDF). Ombudsman Of the Philippines. Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
- ^ Arguillas, Carolyn (June 15, 2012). "Maguindanao inaugurates legislative hall; Sultan Kudarat is back as provincial seat". MindaNews. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
- ^ Cabrera, Ferdinandh (July 28, 2020). "Old Capitol building in Maguindanao now a COVID-19 isolation facility". GMA News. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
- ^ "For security reasons, new Maguindanao gov to hold office in hometown". Vera Files. June 20, 2010. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
- ^ a b Fernandez, Edwin (October 8, 2018). "PRRD invited to inaugurate Maguindanao 'White House'". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
- ^ a b Sarmiento, Bong S. (July 3, 2019). "'Mobile capitol' rolls anew in Maguindanao". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
- ^ Fernandez, Edwin (February 11, 2019). "All set for Duterte visit to Maguindanao 'Inaul' festival". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
- ^ Sarmiento, Bong (July 2, 2019). "New Maguindanao gov delivers inaugural address in capitol Shariff Aguak town". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
- ^ Arcoon, Dennis (May 17, 2019). "Kapitolyo sa Shariff Aguak muling bubuksan, White House sa Buluan gagawing Hospital- Bai Mariam" [Capitol in Shariff Aguak opened once again, White House in Buluan will be made a Hospital- Bai Mariam]. RMN Networks (in Filipino). Retrieved October 8, 2025.
- ^ "Duterte approves splitting Maguindanao into 2 provinces". Rappler. May 27, 2021. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
- ^ Bagaoisan, Anjo (September 18, 2022). "Maguindanao mahahati sa 2 probinsya matapos ang plebisito" [Maguindanao to be split into 2 provinces following plebiscite]. ABS-CBN News (in Tagalog). Retrieved September 18, 2022.
- ^ "Tourism Sites/Potentials" (PDF). Maguindanao del Sur Local Government. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
- ^ "New Maguindanao capitol 'White House' only in name". Philippine Daily Inquirer. October 10, 2018. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
- ^ a b Maulana, Nash (March 3, 2018). "White House in Moro land". Manila Standard. Retrieved October 8, 2025.