President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. teased Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian of working too much and having no time for romance.

During the DSWD’s 74th Anniversary celebration at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay CIty, Marcos said he caught Gatchalian awake on the wee hours of the day.

“Our Secretary is a hard worker. He has no time for romance,” he jokingly told the crowd.

“All of you, the Secretary, even the [undersecretaries], when I call at three in the morning, you answer. I don't think you are getting some sleep,” he added.

He told the DSWD team to “go to sleep” every now and then to prevent getting sick.

Hearty jokes

The President is not yet done with Valentine's as he humorously made a reference to the department’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), which provides free technical-vocational and life skills training for the vulnerable and marginalized sectors.

“This [program] doesn't mean 'Sustainable Lovelife Program,' alright? Because someone might ask, 'Sir, is there any training for the brokenhearted? The personalities without a partner,'” Marcos told an energetic crowd.

Marcos noted that if the SLP was created for those who have a “love life,” applicants would come running to the DSWD especially those who are in a “situationship.”

Situationship is defined as having a romantic or intimate relationship that is not considered to be formal or established.

“[It’s] when you're invested, but you still don't have a label. But we're focused on business — not the heart. We can't do that,” he said.

According to Marcos, the SLP has served 271,000 families.