New DBM chief Toledo ‘surprised' by appointment

Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Undersecretary Rolando Toledo on Monday expressed surprised at being named officer-in-charge of the agency, following the resignation of Secretary Amenah Pangandaman.

During an ambush interview on the sidelines of Senate debates on the proposed 2026 budgets for the DBM and other agencies, Toledo admitted he was unaware that Pangandaman had stepped down.

“I was told only before she left. She left the [session] hall because she will attend something, some meeting. So, I was told na ako daw ang pinadala niyang pangalan (my name was endorsed). That’s how it was done,” Toledo told Senate reporters. 

Toledo admitted the news of his sudden appointment came as a shock.

“Recently lang. I was surprised, actually. Nanginginig pa nga ako ngayon eh,” he added.

(I only found out about it recently. I was surprised, actually. I’m still shaking right now.)

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro announced on Monday afternoon that Pangandaman resigned voluntarily after she was implicated in the flood control projects scandal.

Aside from her, Atty. Lucas Bersamin also stepped down as Executive Secretary, and will be replaced by Finance Secretary Ralph Recto. 

Asked if he is ready to lead the DBM, Toledo said, “We will para sa bayan (We will accept, for the country.)”

Toledo's appointment came just as the DBM's proposed 2026 budget amounting to P3.46 billion is set to be tackled on the Senate floor on Monday evening.

It will be sponsored by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, who also chairs the Senate committee on finance. 

Toledo said he will now take the cudgels of assisting Gatchalian as he defends the DBM budget.

“Well, as it is right now, without my Secretary, we are together with our senior staff present here right now,” Toledo said. 

The DBM primarily oversees the national budget and fiscal management by allocating funds and monitoring spending for all government agencies.

Its attached agencies or offices include the Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB), the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), and the National Government Portal (NGP) / Central Information Systems Office (CISO).

It also supervises the Procurement Service (PS-DBM) as the central purchasing arm of the national government.—MCG, GMA Integrated News