President Marcos jokes about ayuda for ‘persons without dyowa’

president marcos jokes about ayuda for ‘persons without dyowa’

President Marcos jokes about ayuda for ‘persons without dyowa’

MANILA, Philippines — Does a broken heart qualify as a disability? President Marcos said he would have to ask the opinion of his lawyer wife, Liza Araneta-Marcos.

Marcos made the joke at the 73rd anniversary celebration of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Quezon City on Friday.

In his speech, the President highlighted the significant increase in the DSWD’s budget to P245 billion this year from last year’s P196.5 billion, which he said would support more Filipinos in need.

“Indeed, your activities cover from womb to tomb, from helping the homeless to sheltering victims of calamities, saving lives and providing livelihood, helping the sick, keeping mothers and their children healthy,” Marcos said.

“You operate orphanages for those in the dawn of life and homes for the aged for those in the dusk of life. You are first responders to disasters and frontliners in community development,” he said.

Marcos went on to say the DSWD also looks after the welfare of the PWDs or persons with disability, except the other kind of PWD, the “person without dyowa” – Filipino slang for lover.

“The welfare of PWDs is also in your mandate – except maybe for one type of PWD, the person without dyowa,” the President said, drawing laughter from the crowd.

“Seriously, these people must have access ramps to government services. Let us not be deaf and blind to their grievances,” he said.

Marcos also made reference to an Ilocano trait of being frugal. Marcos’ family hails from Ilocos Norte.

“While Ilocanos are known to be Scrooge (kuripot), especially when it comes to people’s money, that (DSWD budget hike) is something I won’t refuse,” Marcos said in Filipino.

The Chief Executive cited the DSWD’s huge funding for the conditional cash transfer program, Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps as well as the Social Pension Program for indigent senior citizens.

He also mentioned the P100,000 incentive provided by the DSWD to Filipinos who reach 100 years old.

“Let’s add to this the P49.8 billion for the social pension of 4.085 million seniors. As well as the incentives for super seniors, the centenarians, like Manong JPE,” the President said, referring to Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile.

He said Enrile would turn 100 on Feb. 14, Valentine’s Day, and thus be qualified for benefits given by the DSWD under its Centenarian Program.

Marcos likewise cited the P4.1-billion budget for the agency’s food feeding program, which he said would serve tens of millions of hot meals to 2.027 million preschool children in communities; as well as the Food Stamp program, which gives P3,000 worth of food credit monthly to the poorest Filipinos.

News Related

OTHER NEWS

Aliw Awards nominations out

ALIW Awards Foundation Inc. President Alice H. Reyes has released the names of finalists for the 2023 Aliw Awards to be presented on Dec. 11, 2023, at the Manila Hotel ... Read more »

WhatsApp Web gains the feature of single-view photos and videos

WhatsApp Web gains the feature of single-view photos and videos (Photo: Unsplash) The WhatsApp Web, the desktop version of the popular messaging app from Meta, has received an update allowing ... Read more »

Young athletes’ time to shine in Siklab Awards

Young athletes’ time to shine in Siklab Awards MANILA, Philippines — The future heroes of Philippine sports will be honored during the third Siklab Youth Sports Awards on Dec. 4 ... Read more »

Local exec says 5-10 barangays still isolated in Northern Samar

Graphics by Jannielyn Ann Bigtas A local government official said Monday that five to 10 barangays in Northern Samar are still isolated following the massive flooding in the area last ... Read more »

App made by ex-jeepney driver will let you pay PUV fare, book tricycles

DyipPay app lets you pay jeepney fare, book tricycles “Barya lang po sa umaga.” Everyone who rides jeepneys knows this rule: it may not be an actual law, but it’s ... Read more »

Updated In-Season Tournament Bracket ahead of pool play finale

Updated In-Season Tournament Bracket ahead of pool play finale Tuesday will mark the last day of pool play for the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament. From there, six first-place teams and ... Read more »

PCG forms teams for maritime emergency response

PCG forms teams for maritime emergency response MANILA, Philippines — Recent incidents of fishermen lost in the waters off Southern Tagalog have prompted the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to form ... Read more »
Top List in the World