Workers from the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) condemned the Marcos family for its lavish spending amid widespread poverty. This follows as news of their grandiose renovation of the presidential palace in Malacañang came out. The workers are demanding that the government disclose the cost of the renovation and its source of funding.

“They owe the public an explanation,” they said. “Workers endure small rented rooms, often losing water and electricity services from failure to pay bills on time due to very low wages.”

The renovation of the Bahay Pangulo (formerly Bahay Pangarap) began when the Marcoses took office in Malacañang and was only completed this October. At the behest of President Marcos and his wife Liza Araneta Marcos, six new buildings, a large swimming pool, and other changes were made to make their family’s residence a “resort-like” home.

The Marcoses flaunted the renovation concurrent with a survey showing an increase in the number of poverty-mired Filipinos. On October 11, the Social Weather Station released a survey on “self-rated poverty” which showed that 59% of Filipinos, or 16.3 million families, saw themselves as poor in July. This is higher than the 58% in June and highest since June 2008.

The highest rate of poverty was reported in Mindanao (67%), followed by the Visayas (62%) and Luzon (55%). The rate in the National Capital Region (NCR) was slightly lower at 52%, but even this is a significant increase from 39% in June.

Almost 10% of respondents said they were newly poor, while 41.5% said they have always been poor.

Almost half (46%) of Filipino families said they were food poor, the highest rate also since June 2008.

The survey was conducted from September 12 to 23 covering 1,500 households nationwide.