The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) formally ushered in a new era on Wednesday as newly appointed Budget Secretary Kim Robert C. De Leon used his first official address to issue a strong warning against corruption and misuse of public funds, declaring that the government “will not allow the budget to be abused again for another flood control scandal.”

 

Speaking before DBM officials and employees during the Department’s leadership turnover ceremony at the DBM Central Office, the 32-year-old De Leon — now the youngest Budget Secretary in Philippine history — vowed to restore public trust in government spending through faster service delivery, tighter accountability, and reforms anchored on transparency, efficiency, and results that ordinary Filipinos can immediately feel.

 

“Let us be clear: we will not allow the budget to be abused again for another flood control scandal. Klaro ang direktiba ng Pangulo — bawat piso, mapupunta sa tao. Hindi sa corruption. Hindi sa kapabayaan. Hindi sa mga proyektong walang pakinabang sa mamamayan,” Secretary De Leon declared.

 

The statement drew strong reaction inside the packed DBM auditorium, with several officials describing it as among the strongest anti-corruption messages delivered by a newly installed Budget Secretary in recent years.

 

De Leon acknowledged mounting public frustration over delayed government services, slowing economic growth, rising fuel prices, and persistent concerns over how public funds are spent. He stressed that the DBM under his leadership would move aggressively to ensure that government resources directly improve the lives of Filipinos.

 

“Sa DBM, dito bawal ang mabagal. Sa DBM, dapat bawal ang maghintay. Ang serbisyo dapat mabilis.  Sa DBM, dapat bayan ang makikinabang. Sa DBM, dapat bida ang mamamayan. Ang gobyerno dapat maramdaman. Ang budget dapat direktang nagpapagaan ng buhay ng ating mga kababayan,” he said.

 

The new Budget chief also underscored the need to rebuild confidence in the institution itself, emphasizing that public trust must be earned through integrity, discipline, and concrete results.

 

“As a true blooded scout, I am guided by the scout code—always and in all ways. Sabi nga namin: On my honor, I will do my best. Hence, my mission is not only to maintain my personal record clean but also to regain public trust in he Department of Budget and Management. Public office is public trust, and every peso entrusted to government carries the hopes of the Filipino people,” De Leon emphasized.

 

Throughout his years in public service, De Leon has built a reputation as a reform-oriented technocrat focused on fiscal management, organizational development, and digital governance reforms aimed at improving efficiency and reducing opportunities for corruption.

 

During the ceremony, Secretary De Leon also paid tribute to outgoing DBM Secretary Rolando U. Toledo for his decades of service and contributions to public financial management reforms.

“Secretary Rolly Toledo dedicated nearly four decades of his life to public finance and public service. His integrity, professionalism, and commitment to reform will remain part of the foundation we will continue building upon,_ he said.

 

Outgoing Secretary Toledo, in turn, expressed confidence in the Department’s new leadership and urged DBM personnel to continue upholding transparency and accountability in government service.

 

“I trust your leadership, Sec. Kim. Continue what we have always stood for: transparency, accountability, and a government that truly belongs to its people. Never forget the citizen. Make them part of the system,” Secretary Toledo said.

 

The turnover ceremony marked the formal beginning of Secretary De Leon’s leadership at the DBM as the Department pursues reforms aligned with the administration’s governance and economic agenda under Bagong Pilipinas.

20 May 2026

 

 

‘HINDI NATIN HAHAYAANG MAULIT ANG FLOOD CONTROL SCANDAL’

 

Pormal na sinalubong ng Department of Budget and Management (DBM) ang bagong yugto ng pamumuno sa institusyon nitong Miyerkules matapos ipahayag ng bagong talagang Budget Secretary na si Kim Robert C. De Leon ang kanyang unang opisyal na talumpati, kung saan nagbigay siya ng matinding babala laban sa korapsyon at maling paggamit ng pondo ng bayan, kasabay ang pag-giit na hindi niya papayagang muling maabuso ang budget para sa isa na namang flood control scandal.  

 

Sa kanyang talumpati sa harap ng mga opisyal at empleyado ng DBM sa isinagawang turnover ceremony sa DBM Central Office, nangako ang 32-anyos na si De Leon — na ngayon ay kinikilalang pinakabatang Budget Secretary sa kasaysayan ng Pilipinas — na ibabalik niya ang tiwala ng publiko sa government spending sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng mas mabilis na serbisyo publiko, mas mahigpit na pananagutan, at mga repormang nakabatay sa mga prinsipyo ng transparency at efficiency, at iyong nagbibigay ng resultang agarang mararamdaman ng mga Pilipino.  

 

“Let us be clear: we will not allow the budget to be abused again for another flood control scandal. Klaro ang direktiba ng Pangulo — bawat piso, mapupunta sa tao. Hindi sa corruption. Hindi sa kapabayaan. Hindi sa mga proyektong walang pakinabang sa mamamayan,” pahayag ni Secretary De Leon.

 

Umani ng matinding reaksiyon ang pahayag na ito sa loob ng DBM auditorium, kung saan inilarawan ng ilang opisyal na isa ito sa mga pinakamalakas na mensahe kontra-korapsyon na ipinahayag ng isang bagong talagang Budget Secretary sa mga nakalipas na taon.  

 

Kinilala rin ni De Leon ang lumalaking pagkadismaya ng publiko dahil sa delayed na serbisyo ng gobyerno, mabagal na paglago ng ekonomiya, pagtaas ng presyo ng langis, at patuloy na pangamba ukol sa paggastos ng pondo ng bayan. Binigyang-diin niyang kikilos nang mabilis at episyente ang DBM sa ilalim ng kanyang pamumuno upang matiyak na direktang mapapakinabangan ng mga Pilipino ang pondo ng bayan.

 

“Sa DBM, dito bawal ang mabagal. Sa DBM, dapat bawal ang maghintay. Ang serbisyo dapat mabilis.  Sa DBM, dapat bayan ang makikinabang. Sa DBM, dapat bida ang mamamayan. Ang gobyerno dapat maramdaman. Ang budget dapat direktang nagpapagaan ng buhay ng ating mga kababayan,” dagdag pa niya.

 

Binigyang-diin din ng bagong Budget Chief na mahalagang maibalik ang tiwala at kumpiyansa ng publiko sa DBM, at sinabi na ang tiwala ng mamamayan ay dapat makuha sa pamamagitan ng integridad, disiplina, at kongkretong resulta.

 

“As a true blooded scout, I am guided by the scout code—always and in all ways. Sabi nga namin: On my honor, I will do my best. Hence, my mission is not only to maintain my personal record clean but also to regain public trust in the Department of Budget and Management. Public office is public trust, and every peso entrusted to government carries the hopes of the Filipino people,” ayon kay De Leon.

 

Sa kanyang paglilingkod sa bayan, kinikilala si De Leon bilang isang reform-oriented technocrat na nakatuon sa reporma sa fiscal management, organizational development, at digital governance upang mapabuti ang kahusayan ng pamahalaan at mabawasan ang mga oportunidad para sa korapsyon.

 

Nagbigay-pugay rin si Secretary De Leon kay outgoing DBM Secretary Rolando U. Toledo para sa kanyang ilang dekada ng paglilingkod at mga natatanging ambag sa reporma sa public financial management.

 

“Secretary Rolly Toledo dedicated nearly four decades of his life to public finance and public service. His integrity, professionalism, and commitment to reform will remain part of the foundation we will continue building upon,” aniya.

 

Ipinahayag naman ni outgoing Secretary Toledo ang kanyang kumpiyansa sa bagong pamunuan ng DBM at hinikayat ang mga kawani nito na ipagpatuloy ang pagsusulong ng transparency at accountability sa serbisyo publiko.

 

“I trust your leadership, Sec. Kim. Continue what we have always stood for: transparency, accountability, and a government that truly belongs to its people. Never forget the citizen. Make them part of the system,” saad ni Secretary Toledo.

 

Ang turnover ceremony ay nagsilbing pormal na pagsisimula ng pamumuno ni Secretary De Leon sa DBM habang isinusulong ng ahensya ang mga repormang nakaayon sa governance at economic agenda ng administrasyon ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. sa ilalim ng Bagong Pilipinas.