President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. proved he is still in tune with the times, finding an opportunity to joke about “labels” and “situationships” during the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) 74th-anniversary event at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay.
“With the implementation of the Sustainable Livelihood Program or SLP, we empower our fellow Filipinos with the skills, with the resources, most importantly, the knowledge to improve their livelihoods—whether through micro-enterprises or stable employment,” Mr. Marcos said of the program that conducts free technical-vocational and life skills training.
“SLP doesn’t mean ‘Sustainable Lovelife Program,’ ha?” he then joked in a mix of English and Filipino.
The President explained that someone might ask if there is training provided for those who are unsuccessful at love — those he calls “personalities without jowa (partner).”
He then teased Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian: “Your Secretary comes first to mind… he is so hardworking. No more time for romance.”
“If SLP was for love life, certainly applicants would come rushing in — especially those in situationships. Where you’re already invested but there is still no label,” Marcos said in jest.
“But what we are addressing are businesses, not hearts. We can’t handle that,” he added before proceeding on a more serious note that nearly 271,000 households benefitted from SLP in 2024 alone.