Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1778644437050photo-collage.png (1) (8).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Undersecretary Kim Robert De Leon as his new Budget Secretary, the youngest in the agency’s history. Photo from UP NCPAG website</div>MANILA (2nd UPDATE) -- President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Undersecretary Kim Robert De Leon as his new Budget Secretary, the youngest in the agency&#x27;s history.Before his promotion to the DBM&#x27;s helm, De Leon handled the agency&#x27;s Organization and Systems Improvement and Information and Communications Technology Groups.&quot;A career public servant, Secretary de Leon is recognized for his work in fiscal management, organizational reform and digital transformation,&quot; Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a Palace press briefing.&quot;He graduated magna cum laude and valedictorian from UP-NCPAG. He also topped the 2016 Environmental Planning Licensure Examination and holds master&#x27;s degrees in Urban and Regional Planning, and Public Safety Administration with academic honors,&quot; she said.&quot;Additionally, Secretary de Leon obtained a certificate in Business Process Management from the Queensland University of Technology in 2021 under the Australia Awards scholarship program.&quot;Prior to his stint in the DBM, the millennial official also served in the Department of Transportation (DOTr) as Undersecretary for Administration and Finance.De Leon graduated with honors from the University of the Philippines with a degree in Bachelor of Public Administration, and earned his Master of Arts in Urban and Regional Planning title from the same university, and has a Master of Public Safety Administration from the Philippine Public Safety College.&quot;That&#x27;s the prerogative of the President,&quot; Castro said when asked why Marcos replaced acting Secretary Rolando Toledo with the 32-year old De Leon.Toledo rose to the helm of the DBM in late 2025, replacing former Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, who left the agency after her name was dragged into the multi-billion flood control scandal controversy.Pangandaman denied involvement in the supposed pilfering of public funds through non-existent or substandard anti-flood infrastructure programs.In a statement, Toledo expressed his &quot;wholehearted support&quot; for De Leon.&quot;I... remain confident in the Department&#x27;s continued pursuit of sound, transparent, and people-centered governance,&quot; Toledo also said.&quot;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.&quot;De Leon will take his oath as the new DBM chief on May 19, Castro said.He is expected to lead the DBM as it finalizes the Philippines&#x27; proposed 2027 national budget, which will be formally submitted to Congress either in July or August.<div> </div><div>RELATED VIDEO</div><div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qTbAvY0kkyU?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </div>

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Undersecretary Kim Robert De Leon as his new Budget Secretary, the youngest in the agency’s history.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Undersecretary Kim Robert De Leon as his new Budget Secretary, the youngest in the agency’s history.

Marcos names Kim Robert de Leon as new Budget chief, youngest in DBM history

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Marcos names Kim Robert de Leon as new Budget chief, youngest in DBM history

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 18, 2026 12:13 PM PHT

|

Updated May 18, 2026 05:50 PM PHT

Read More:

Department of Budget and Management

DBM

Kim Robert De Leon

Marcos Cabinet

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