Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Kim Robert de Leon challenged graduates of the University of the Philippines Diliman College of Engineering to uphold integrity, reject substandard work, and use their expertise to build infrastructure that serves the Filipino people.
Speaking at the college’s Undergraduate and Graduate Recognition Rites on July 8, de Leon said engineers play a critical role in translating government plans into projects that improve lives, making technical competence and ethical leadership equally important in nation-building.
Drawing parallels between engineering and public budgeting, he described the national budget as a blueprint for roads, schools, hospitals, transport systems, and other public investments that ultimately depend on engineers for successful implementation.
“The Philippines needs engineers in and around public service, not simply because government needs better projects, but because engineers are trained to make things real, to close the gap between what is designed and what is delivered,” he said.
De Leon reminded the Class of 2026 that while board examinations test technical knowledge, integrity is measured throughout one’s professional career.
“Your signature has meaning. It may determine whether a bridge stands, whether a drainage system works, whether a family is protected, or whether a community survives,” he said, urging graduates to reject shortcuts and refuse work they know is wrong despite external pressure.
He warned against settling for mediocrity, stressing that the decision to uphold standards can spell the difference between safe infrastructure and costly failures.
De Leon also reminded the graduates that their education was made possible through public funds, saying they owe Filipino taxpayers a lifetime of service and professionalism.
“The Philippines does not need perfect engineers. It needs honest ones,” he said.
The recognition rites were held in separate morning and afternoon ceremonies at the UP Theater for undergraduate and graduate students of the UP Diliman College of Engineering.
