President Marcos is not closing his doors on Vice President Sara Duterte in terms of her meaningful recommendations to resolve issues concerning the nation.

Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro made the statement when sought to respond to the remark of Duterte's spokesperson Ruth Castelo that it is a “disservice” to Filipinos that the vice president is being kept “out of the loop.”

Castro pointed out that all meaningful suggestions coming from the vice president are welcome, adding that Marcos is ready to listen to them.

"[O]n the part of the Palace, welcome po kung anuman po ang suhestiyon na makabuluhan, magandang suhestiyon na magmumula sa OVP (On the part of the Palace, any meaningful and constructive suggestion coming from the Office of the Vice President is welcome)," Castro said.

"Hindi po ito tinatanggihan at hindi po sinasara ng Pangulo ang pintuan sa Bise Presidente. Lahat po ng maaaring suhestiyon na makabuluhan ay tatanggapin po iyan kung ito naman po ay makakatulong sa taumbayan (This is not being rejected, and the President is not closing the door on the Vice President. All suggestions that are valuable and can help the people will be accepted)," she added.

The Palace official also stressed that the President is not blocking the Vice President's initiative for the Filipino people. She added that Duterte was the one refusing to help Marcos and his administration, particularly in addressing the high prices of rice.

"Tandaan po natin, mismong si Bise Presidente ang nagsabing siya raw po ay mayroong formula or alam para maipababa ang presyo ng bigas pero ayaw niya pong i-share sa gobyerno at sa administrasyon dahil ayaw niyang tulungan ang Pangulo (Let us remember, it was the Vice President, herself, who said that she supposedly has a formula or knows how to lower the price of rice, but she refused to share it with the government and the administration because she did not want to help the President)," Castro said.

"So, hindi po nanggagaling sa Pangulo o sa administrasyon na ito ang pagharang sa kanyang mga gustong gawin para sa taumbayan. Unang-una po ay handa pong makinig ang Pangulo sa anumang kaniyang suhestiyon na may kabuluhan (So, the obstruction of her proposed initiatives for the people is not coming from the President or the administration. First and foremost, the President is willing to listen to any suggestion of substance)," she added.

Castro also insisted that the administration is not blocking Duterte's request for a higher budget.

"Tandaan po natin, kahit po ang DBM ay binigyan po siya, pinataas po ito sa initial proposed budget nila for 2026, binigyan pa po at in-increase sa P170 million, inaprubahan po ito ng DBM. At sa ngayon po, ang proposed budget ng OVP ay from P733 million ay ginawa pong P903 million (Let us remember, even the DBM increased her initially proposed budget for 2026 — it was raised to P170 million and approved by the DBM. And as of now, the proposed budget for the OVP has increased from P733 million to P903 million)," Castro said.

Castro argued that "it just so happened that she was not able to properly defend it before the House of Representatives."

She reiterated that whatever decision the House of Representatives or Congress made is beyond the President’s control.

"Mas mabuti po siguro kung mas nais niya po ng mas malaking budget, katulad ng isang estudyante kung mayroon kayong thesis na gustong idepensa, idepensa ninyo po nang maayos para po kayo ay mapagbigyan (If she really wants a bigger budget, perhaps it would be better, like a student defending a thesis — she should defend it well in order to be granted that request)," Castro said.