BULUAN, Maguindanao—The latest of Maguindanao’s Capitol buildings in the last four decades is inspired by the architectural design of the White House in Washington D.C., Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu said on Thursday.
“I asked Architect Evan Torollo if he could design our Capitol Building the way I’m inspired by a childhood dream to be able to visit the White House one day,” Mangudadatu said.
Mangudadatu said the new two-story Capitol Building, constructed with a total floor-area of 6,000 square meters, stands on a 5.5-hectare land set aside for the Provincial Government Complex here.
The P200-million capitol building funded through a loan program with the Land Bank of the Philippines is expected to be completed by summer.
In the edifice’s current stage of construction, no visible hints yet are in sight as to formation of an “east wing” or a “west wing” and on whether it will have similarly a space for an “oval office.”
Once finished, its façade to the northeast would be much visible to travelers along the Davao-Cotabato-Maguindanao National Highway, said Provincial engineer Abbie Hasim.
But Mangudadatu said young people who had similarly dreamed of visiting the White House someday, might instead wish to visit Maguindanao one day.
Mangudadatu said his childhood dream of visiting the White House may soon come true with an official foreign trip slated for Washington D.C. He did not elaborate.
Meanwhile, Land Bank of the Philippines President Alex Buenaventura said the bank and the provincial government of Maguindanao have had a long track record of development partnership.
A cornerstone was also laid Thursday for the P100-million “mixed-used” building, also funded by LBP loan facility, which would house a Business Process Outsourcing center here.
The four-story building with 2,400 square-meters in aggregate floor area will also partly serve as the town’s second hotel.
The new hotel will be managed by the provincial government and part of its income will help fund the province’s scholarship program for children of families displaced by armed conflict, Mangudadatu said. Nash B. Maulana
Engineer Abdulwahab Tunga, provincial administrator, said Maguindanao had developed its corporate trust with LBP since Mangudadatu’s first term as Buluan municipal mayor, when the Asian Development Bank gave him recognition for implementing community projects.
Buenaventura said he had asked Mangudadatu to help LBP engage small farm owners into constituting a “vast corporate farm” to create employment opportunities and help improve their lot with provisions of social needs, including education programs for their children.