The Department of Budget and Management welcomed Secretary Kim Robert C. De Leon as the country’s new Budget Secretary following his appointment by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on 18 May 2026, as announced by Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro during the Malacañang press briefing earlier today.

 

“Kim Robert De Leon is the new Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), becoming the youngest member of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Cabinet. Secretary De Leon is expected to take his oath of office tomorrow,” Usec. Claire Castro said.

 

“Secretary De Leon is recognized for his work in fiscal management, organizational reform, and digital transformation. He graduated magna cum laude and valedictorian from UP NCPAG. He also topped the 2016 Environmental Planning Licensure Examination and holds master’s degrees in urban and regional planning and public safety administration, with academic honors. Additionally, Secretary De Leon obtained a Certificate in Business Process Management from the Queensland University of Technology in 2021,” Usec. Castro added.

 

The Palace briefer likewise announced that outgoing DBM Secretary Rolando U. Toledo will be appointed to the Board of Trustees of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), representing leading organizations or associations of government employees and retirees.

 

“DBM Acting Secretary Rolando ‘Rolly’ Toledo will be appointed to the Board of Trustees, representing the leading organizations or associations of government employees and retirees at the GSIS,  Usec. Castro said.

 

Secretary De Leon previously served as Undersecretary for the Organization and Systems Improvement Group and the Information and Communications Technology Group of the DBM under then Secretary Wendel E. Avisado.

 

Following his service at the DBM, he held key government positions, including Undersecretary for Administration and Finance of the Department of Transportation and Secretary General of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines. He also obtained his Career Executive Service Eligibility in 2024.

 

Prior to his appointment as Budget Secretary, he served as an Assistant Professor at the University of the Philippines National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP NCPAG), where he taught courses on governmental accounting, auditing, local government administration, and regional administration.

 

Outgoing DBM Secretary Toledo expressed his full support for the new Budget Chief and for the institution he has served for nearly four decades.

 

“As I transition from this role, I extend my wholehearted support to the new DBM Secretary and remain confident in the Department’s continued pursuit of sound, transparent, and people-centered governance,” outgoing Secretary Toledo said.

 

Since his designation as Acting Secretary in December 2025, Toledo has led several key institutional initiatives, including the successful conduct of the FY 2027 Budget Preparation Forums, the finalization of the administration’s version of the Philippine Budgeting Code, and the rollout of the Usapang Budget Natin Town Hall Meetings—all aimed at accelerating reform, fostering unity, and strengthening public trust.

 

“Rest assured that my commitment to serve our country and the Filipino people, which I have upheld for more than 38 years in public service, remains unchanged. That commitment will continue wherever I may be called to serve,  Secretary Toledo added.

 

The Department expressed confidence that Secretary De Leon would further strengthen the DBM’s reform agenda by building on the gains of the institution while advancing meaningful innovations in fiscal governance, organizational excellence, and digital transformation.

 

 

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ika-18 ng Mayo 2026

 

 

 

Malugod ang naging pagtanggap ng Department of Budget and Management (DBM) sa pagkakatalaga ni Secretary Kim Robert C. De Leon bilang kalihim ng Department of Budget and Management, matapos pirmahan ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ang kanyang appointment papers noong ika-18 ng Mayo 2026, ayon sa inanunsyo ni Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro sa ginanap na press briefing sa Malacañang ngayong araw.

 

“Kim Robert De Leon is the new Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), becoming the youngest member of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Cabinet. Secretary De Leon is expected to take his oath of office tomorrow,”  ayon kay Usec. Claire Castro.

 

“Secretary De Leon is recognized for his work in fiscal management, organizational reform, and digital transformation. He graduated magna cum laude and valedictorian from UP NCPAG. He also topped the 2016 Environmental Planning Licensure Examination and holds master’s degrees in urban and regional planning and public safety administration, with academic honors. Additionally, Secretary De Leon obtained a Certificate in Business Process Management from the Queensland University of Technology in 2021,' dagdag pa ni Usec. Castro.

 

Inanunsyo rin ng tagapagsalita ng Palasyo na itatalaga si outgoing DBM Secretary Rolando U. Toledo bilang miyembro ng Board of Trustees ng Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), bilang kinatawan ng mga pangunahing organisasyon o samahan ng mga empleyado at retirado ng pamahalaan.

 

“DBM Acting Secretary Rolando ‘Rolly’ Toledo will be appointed to the Board of Trustees, representing the leading organizations or associations of government employees and retirees at the GSIS,” saad ni Usec. Castro.

 

Bago ang kanyang appointment, nagsilbi si Secretary De Leon bilang Undersecretary ng Organization and Systems Improvement Group at Information and Communications Technology Group ng DBM sa ilalim ni dating Secretary Wendel E. Avisado.

 

Matapos ang kanyang panunungkulan sa DBM, naupo siya sa ilang mahahalagang posisyon sa gobyerno, kabilang ang pagiging Undersecretary for Administration and Finance ng Department of Transportation at Secretary General ng Boy Scouts of the Philippines. Nakuha rin niya ang kanyang Career Executive Service Eligibility noong 2024.

 

Bago italaga bilang Kalihim ng DBM, nagsilbi siyang Assistant Professor sa University of the Philippines National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP NCPAG), kung saan nagturo siya ng mga asignatura tungkol sa governmental accounting, auditing, local government administration, at regional administration.

 

Ipinahayag naman ni outgoing DBM Secretary Toledo ang kanyang buong suporta sa bagong Kalihim ng institusyong kanyang pinaglingkuran sa loob ng halos apat na dekada.

 

“As I transition from this role, I extend my wholehearted support to the new DBM Secretary and remain confident in the Department’s continued pursuit of sound, transparent, and people-centered governance,” ayon kay outgoing Secretary Toledo.

 

Mula nang italaga bilang Acting Secretary noong Disyembre 2025, pinangunahan ni Toledo ang ilang mahahalagang inisyatiba ng institusyon, kabilang ang matagumpay na pagsasagawa ng FY 2027 Budget Preparation Forums, pagbuo ng pinal na bersyon ng Philippine Budgeting Code ng administrasyon, at pagsasagawa ng Usapang Budget Natin Town Hall Meetings—na pawang naglalayong pabilisin ang mga reporma, palakasin ang pagkakaisa, at pagtibayin ang tiwala ng publiko.

 

“Rest assured that my commitment to serve our country and the Filipino people, which I have upheld for more than 38 years in public service, remains unchanged. That commitment will continue wherever I may be called to serve,” pagpapatuloy ni Secretary Toledo.

 

Ipinahayag naman ng Kagawaran ang kanilang kumpiyansa na higit pang mapapalakas ni Secretary De Leon ang reform agenda ng DBM sa pamamagitan ng pagpapatuloy sa mga nakamit ng institusyon habang isinusulong ang makabuluhang inobasyon sa fiscal governance, organizational excellence, at digital transformation.