Budget won’t be abused again, DBM chief vows

MANILA, Philippines —  Newly appointed Budget Secretary Kim Robert de Leon issued a strong warning yesterday 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.”

In his speech during the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) leadership turnover ceremony, De Leon 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. The President’s directive is clear: every peso will go to the people. Not to corruption. Not to negligence. Not to projects that are useless to the people,” De Leon declared. 

He 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 as he underscored the need to rebuild confidence in the institution itself, emphasizing that public trust must be earned through integrity, discipline and concrete results.

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.

Before his appointment, De Leon served as undersecretary at the DBM, handling the Organization and Systems Improvement Group and the Information and Communications Technology Group.

He also held senior posts in other agencies, including transportation undersecretary for administration and finance and secretary-general of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines.

The turnover ceremony marked the formal beginning of De Leon’s leadership at the DBM.