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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider Banking & Finance devider OIC DBM chief eyes faster budget releases, enhanced spending

OIC DBM chief eyes faster budget releases, enhanced spending

Published Nov 24, 2025 11:11 am

At A Glance

  • Officer in Charge (OIC) Budget Secretary Rolando U. Toledo is aiming to reinforce major reforms at the agency — from speeding up budget releases to boosting spending efficiency — at a time when the government is tightening infrastructure outlays following the flood control controversy.
Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Budget Secretary Rolando U. Toledo is aiming to reinforce major reforms at the agency—from speeding up budget releases to boosting spending efficiency—at a time when the government is tightening infrastructure outlays following the flood control controversy.
Toledo, described by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) as a seasoned fiscal strategist, has set his sights on firming up the DBM’s key reforms, including faster budget releases, more streamlined procurement, and improved spending.
He has stepped forward following the recent resignation of former budget secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman, which came on the heels of her alleged involvement in multibillion-peso insertions into the ₱6.326-trillion 2025 national budget.
Sectors including education, health, agriculture, infrastructure, and social services will also receive enhanced support under the new leadership.
“His designation affirms continuity, credibility, and strong fiscal stewardship built on decades of dedicated service to the Filipino people,” the DBM said in a statement released on Monday, Nov. 24.
Throughout his nearly four decades in public service, Toledo has served under various administrations, contributing to key fiscal reforms.
“His work has transcended changes in leadership and political shifts—proof of the trust he commands and the institutional value he brings to the DBM,” the agency noted.
Toledo said his long years in service have prepared him for his new role, which he vowed to leverage to advance the reforms the DBM has started.
From 1987 to 2012, he steadily rose through government posts until becoming director of the Fiscal Planning and Reforms Bureau (FPRB).
He was appointed assistant secretary of the Budget Policy and Strategy Group (BPSG) in 2018 and promoted to undersecretary in 2021, playing a key role in major budget policy and strategy reforms.
In 2022, Toledo helped oversee the Local Government and Regional Operations Group (LGROG), reinforcing the link between national budgeting and local development.
He became undersecretary for the Budget Preparation and Execution Group (BPEG) in 2024, the DBM unit responsible for crafting and implementing the national budget.
“We will strive not only to sustain the reforms we are pushing for, but to further strengthen them,” Toledo said.
A certified public accountant (CPA), Toledo earned his BS in Business Administration (BSBA) from the University of the East (UE) in 1984, passed the CPA board exam in 1985, and completed the Program in Development Economics at the University of the Philippines School of Economics (UPSE).
He earned his Master in National Security Administration in 2024, broadening his expertise in the intersection of fiscal governance and national security.
Toledo is also recognized in government circles as a strong advocate of open government, helping drive citizen participation, transparency, and accountability through the Philippine Open Government Partnership (PH-OGP).
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