While Malacañang agreed that the proposal of Senator Panfilo Lacson to opt with reenacted budget rather than a graft-ridden one was a good suggestion, President Marcos remains confident that there is still ample time to pass the proposed 2026 national budget.

"Maganda po ang suhestiyon ni Senator Ping Lacson pero ang nais po talaga ng Pangulo ay hindi magkaroon ng reenacted budget (Senator Ping Lacson’s suggestion is good, but what the President really wants is to avoid having a reenacted budget)," Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a press briefing on Wednesday, Dec. 17.

She stressed that the month is not yet over, they still have time to pass the proposed budget, even amid the current "deadlock" due to issues in farm-to-market road (FMR) projects, the Medical Assistance for Indigent and Financial Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP), and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)'s appeal to restore its budget.

"At hindi pa naman po natatapos ang Disyembre—December 17 pa lang po—at sa tingin po ng Pangulo ay may sapat pang panahon para aralin ito (December is not yet over—it is only December 17—and the President believes there is still enough time to study the matter)," Castro said.

The Palace official further said they will not settle for any lesser evil —choosing between a reenacted budget or a graft-ridden budget— as the President is bent on approving a well-studied national budget.

"I don’t want to mention any lesser evil. I will mention a good option. Ang good option: Araling mabuti, hindi pa po tapos ang Disyembre (Study it thoroughly, December is not yet over)," Castro said.

 "Maayos na budget na maipapasa on time (A well-prepared budget that will be passed on time)," she added.

Castro earlier underscored that they are not considering 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)," she said in an interview on Tuesday, Dec. 16.

"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)," she added.