Palace parties, catering area 'waste of taxpayers' money' — solon

Gabriela Women's Partylist Representative Arlene Brosas slammed the groundbreaking ceremony of a new catering area at the Malacañang Palace and its recent "lavish parties." 

This came after First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos shared a photo of the ceremony for a new catering area at the Palace last Thursday, September 15. 

"While the Marcos family is busy building a new catering area for their extravagant parties using the people's taxes, the Philippine peso recently hit an all-time low, and commuters bear the brunt of public transport fare increases," said Rep. Brosas. 

The lawmaker highlighted that it was "insensitive" to have "extravagant parties amid the worsening economic crisis."

"Walang budget para sa ayuda sa gitna ng malalang kagutuman, pero may budget para sa magarbong luncheon at birthday parties. Kulang ang budget para sa pampatayo ng mga eskwelahan, pero mabilis makapaglaan ng pondo pampatayo ng catering area. This is peak insensitive and a waste of people's money,” she stated. 

(There is no budget for aid amid severe hunger, but there is a budget for fancy luncheons and birthday parties. The budget for the construction of schools is insufficient, but the government can quickly allocate funds for the construction of the catering area)