A former solon has expressed confidence in the appointment of Kim Robert De Leon as the new secretary of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), citing his experience in fiscal policy and deep understanding of the national budget process.
In a statement, former Albay representative Joey Salceda said De Leon demonstrated strong technical and policy expertise during his stint as a DBM undersecretary, particularly in congressional budget deliberations.
He recalled working with De Leon during discussions on the proposed Budget Reform Act, a measure that sought to limit unprogrammed appropriations to two percent of the national budget.
“When I was in the House plenary defending the Budget Reform Act, Secretary-designate Kim De Leon very ably supported my plenary defense,” the ex-solon said.
He added that De Leon also played a key role in defending the general principles of the 2020, 2021, and 2022 national budgets before Congress.
According to Salceda, De Leon’s academic background also strengthens his qualifications for the position, noting that his research papers on the budget process have become important references for policy practitioners and government officials.
The former lawmaker, however, said he could not extensively discuss current budget issues due to his role as amicus curiae before the Supreme Court in a pending case involving unprogrammed appropriations, where the DBM is among the respondents.
Also known as an economist, he said the incoming budget chief would face significant challenges as the government pushes to accelerate spending on high-impact projects amid the continuing fuel crisis and economic pressures.
“Secretary De Leon has an immense task ahead of him. We have to disburse fast on the most high-return projects to eke out every extra basis point of GDP growth we can amid this fuel crisis,” he said.
He also stressed the need to prioritize projects that could help address supply chain concerns and ease the rising cost of essential goods.