Manila, May 20 -- Newly appointed Budget Secretary Kim Robert De Leon on Wednesday pledged to have no room for corruption and misuse of public funds under his watch, stressing his commitment to strengthening budget transparency, accountability and reporting.

The 32-year-old De Leon, the youngest Cabinet member and Budget secretary in Philippine history, said he would prevent a repeat of past budget controversies amid allegations of corruption, mismanagement and irregularities in government-funded flood control projects.

Speaking during the ceremonial leadership turnover at the DBM Central Office in San Miguel, Manila, De Leon said he would ensure that every peso of the national budget would be spent wisely on programs that directly bene...