President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at Malacañan Palace on November 24, 2024. Yummie Dingding, PPA pool/File 

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday jested about having a social welfare program for Filipinos who are stuck in situationships, saying that there seemed to be a high demand for it due to the number of people who invested in relationships without labels.

The President was speaking about the social welfare department’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) during the agency’s 74th anniversary celebration, when he suddenly went off script and clarified that the SLP does not cover skills training to have a “sustainable love life.”

“Kung ang SLP ay para sa love life, siguradong dagsa ang aplikante,” the President said, days after Valentines’ weekend.

“Lalo na yung mga nasa situationship, yung invested ka na pero wala pa din label,” he added.

Marcos Jr. proceeded to tease Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian, who has been dubbed as an eligible bachelor since he first rose to power in the early 2000s as a local politician in Valenzuela City.

“Mayroon bang training para sa mga pusong laging nalulugi? ‘Yan yun mga ano, personalities without jowa. Nangunguna na diyan ‘yung inyong kalihim,” the President said, laughing.

“Masyadong masipag itong ating Secretary, wala nang panahon para magromansa,” he added.

Marcos Jr. then reminded government officials to make room for enough rest despite the demands of their job.

“Lahat naman sa inyo — the Secretary, the Usecs (undersecretaries) — kahit alas-tres ng umaga ay tumatawag ako, sumasagot. Hindi na ata kayo natutulog,” the President said.

“Matulog naman kayo paminsan minsan at baka kayo ay magkasakit. Kailangan namin ng sigla ninyo,” he said.

Gatchalian laughed at the President’s remarks and smiled when asked how long he has been single.

“I just don’t talk about it,” the 46-year old DSWD chief told ABS-CBN News.

“I’d rather people talk about what we do in the department,” he said. 

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