Malacañang is not considering the thought of resorting to any "plan B" or a reenacted budget amid a "deadlock" on the bicameral deliberations on the proposed 2026 national budget.

"Ayaw namin isipin ang plan B. Sana maipasa ang 2026 budget (We do not want to think of a plan B. We hope the 2026 budget will be passed)," Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said in an interview on Tuesday, Dec. 16.

Castro further said that the President remains confident that the proposed national budget will be passed.

"Sa puso at isipan ng Pangulo, kakayanin ito kasi ang gusto nating lahat pati ang Pangulo: Ayaw niya ng reenacted budget. Mas mahirap talaga yun. So, dapat pagpursigihang matapos para maipasa yung 2026 budget (In the heart and mind of the President, this can be done because it’s what all of us want, including the President: he does not want a reenacted budget. That would really be more difficult. So, there should be a strong effort to finish it so that the 2026 budget can be passed)," the Palace official said.

She added that everything possible must be done to prevent the budget from being reenacted.

"Alam po ng lahat, lahat po tayo pati po ang Kongreso, ayaw po ng Pangulo ang isang reenacted budget. So, sa panahong natitira, alam natin na lahat ng kakayanin ay dapat na gawin para hindi mauwi ang isang budget na reenacted budget. Ayaw po ng Pangulo niyan, kahit po ang Department of Finance ay nangangamba kung magkakaroon ng reenacted budget dahil marami pong madi-delay na proyekto kapag nagkataon (Everyone knows— all of us, including Congress— that the President does not want a reenacted budget. So, in the time remaining, we know that everything possible must be done to prevent the budget from ending up as a reenacted budget. The President does not want that, and even the Department of Finance is concerned that if there is a reenacted budget, many projects would be delayed should that happen)," Castro said.