Romer Butuyan 
PARA sa tinaguriang “Young Guns” ng Kamara, napapanahon ang pagtatalaga ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. sa 32-anyos na si Kim Robert De Leon bilang Kalihim ng Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
“The President brings in young blood and fresh outlook in his Cabinet with Secretary de Leon’s appointment,” pahayag ni Deputy Speaker at Zambales Rep. Jay Khonghun bilang reaksyon sa pagtatalaga kay Assistant Professor De Leon ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas.
Bagamat mula sa sektor ng akademya, kumbinsido si Khonghun na malaki ang maitutulong ni De Leon lalo pa’t hindi naman aniya bago sa larangan ng public service ang bagong Kalihim.
Bago pa man hinirang bilang DBM Secretary nagsilbing Undersecretary ng Department of Budget and Management (DBM) si De Leon mula Setyembre 2021 hanggang Hulyo 2022, at humawak ng kahalintulad na posisyon sa Department of Transportation mula sa Hulyo 2022 hanggang Enero 2024.
“The new budget secretary also has impressive academic and professional credentials,” anang ranking House official.
“We hope he brings to DBM fresh energy, vitality and ideas, which he will need in helping the President put together a national spending program that will address the ongoing oil crisis and economic slowdown, and provide assistance and relief to our suffering people,” dugtong niya.
Naniniwala si Khonghun na tamang-tama ang pagkakaluklok kay De Leon sa DBM top post dahil sa napipintong pagbalangkas ng panukalang 2027 national budget pagkatapos ng State of the Nation Address (SONA) ni Pangulong Marcos sa darating na buwan ng Hulyo.
“Though the budget call starts in the first quarter, he still can have his inputs in the preparation of the spending program. We expect to soon see his imprint on budgeting and fiscal management,” dagdag ng Zambales solon.
Sa panig ni Deputy Speaker at La Union Rep. Paolo Ortega V, ikinalugod niya ang appointment ni Secretary De Leon “na may karanasan sa DBM, DOTr, academe, at institutional reform work, may pagkakataon siyang magdala ng bagong sigla sa budget governance,”
“De Leon’s background is significant because the DBM plays a central role in government accountability and public trust,” sabi pa niya.
“Ang DBM ang bantay-pinto ng pambansang pondo. Kapag malinaw, malinis, at madaling masuri ang budget process, mas lumalakas ang tiwala ng taumbayan sa gobyerno,” ani Ortega.
Sinabi ng La Union House leader na ang paghirang sa bagong Budget secretary ay sabay sa mahalagang panahon kung saan lumalakas ang panawagan para sa transparency, wastong paggamit ng pondo, pagbabantay kontra budget insertions at iba pang naglalayong tiyakin gagamitin sa tama ang bawat sentimo ng gobyerno.
“The national budget must be more than a spending plan. It must be a public trust document—clear enough for citizens to scrutinize, disciplined enough to prevent abuse, and managed in a way that ensures every peso is spent prudently and reaches the people it is intended to serve,” ani Ortega.
“Makakaasa si Secretary De Leon na handang makipag tulungan ang Kamara sa mga repormang magpapalakas sa transparency, accountability, at people-centered budgeting upang masigurong bawat piso ng taumbayan ay nagagamit nang maayos at may malinaw na pakinabang sa publiko,” aniya pa.
Sinang-ayunan din ni Ortega na mabuting magkaroon ng younger leadership sa larangan ng fiscal governance upang matutukan ang pag-modernize sa outdated systems, kaakibat ang institutional discipline at pagiging bukas din sa legislative oversight.
“Youth in leadership must translate into speed, innovation, and courage to fix weak systems. We hope Secretary De Leon will use his mandate to make budgeting more transparent, evidence-based, and responsive to ordinary Filipinos,” dagdag pa ng La Union solon.
“The House will work with the new DBM leadership to advance budget reforms that are transparent, progressive, and accountable to the Filipino people.”
