Conceived under the administration of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2005, when the Office of the President acquired the property inside the DPWH Compound in Davao City, the two-storey guesthouse was completed in 2007.[1] It was planned to serve as an official residence of the subsequent presidents when visiting Davao and the surrounding provinces. However, it was used only once by Macapagal-Arroyo and was only used as a staging point by President Benigno Aquino III in his visits to the city and the nearby Samal Island and Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur.
President Rodrigo Duterte indicated that the guest house will have a more active role in his administration. It served as his active office and residence and an alternative to Malacañang Palace in Manila. It was in active use as a meeting place for his Cabinet.[2]
The Malacañang of the South contains eight airconditioned rooms as the living quarters of the President, staff and VIPs, along with a conference room and a personal working office. Overlooking the sea, it has a view of the Island Garden City of Samal and includes a jetty for transport to the island, fitted to the presidential yacht, BRP Ang Pangulo (AT-25). The complex also has a helipad shared with the DPWH warehouse facilities.[3][4]
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