MANILA — Senator Bam Aquino has underscored the importance of his proposed Citizen Access and Disclosure of Expenditures for National Accountability (CADENA) Act, also known as the “Blockchain the Budget” Act, as a tool to fight corruption and protect taxpayers’ money through greater transparency in government spending.

During the Senate Committee on Science and Technology hearing on Tuesday, Aquino said the measure seeks to mandate the full disclosure of all government transaction documents through a secure and tamper-proof digital public ledger system, allowing citizens to track how public funds are used.

“Iyong konsepto ng full disclosure, naging Blockchain the Budget, na iyong unang version natin. Ngayon po na marami nang nagkomento, si Blockchain the Budget, ngayon po ay CADENA Act na ang tawag natin. Nagbabago po ang versions na hinahanap natin pero iisa pa rin ang konsepto, na ang pera ng bayan dapat pinangangalagaan,” Aquino said.

“Iyong pera ng bayan, hindi dapat ninanakaw, dapat napupunta sa tama. Iyong pera ng bayan, may karapatan ang mamamayan kung saan napupunta ang perang pinaghirapan at buwis na binibigay buwan-buwan,” he added.

If enacted, Aquino said the CADENA Act will give the public a direct way to monitor how the government spends their hard-earned taxes, “down to the last centavo.”

“Sa atin pong batas, may paraan na ang taumbayan para makita kaagad kung saan at paano ginagastos ang kanilang buwis at pera ng bayan. Sa atin pong batas, nasa tao ang kapangyarihan na bantayan ang kanilang gobyerno,” he stressed.

The senator said the bill promotes a higher level of transparency by requiring detailed project information, including the actual prices of materials.

“Ang pagbulatlat ng mga pinagagastusan hanggang sa presyo ng materyales, iyan po ang level of transparency na hinahanap po natin at iyan rin po ang pinakamalakas nating sandata laban po sa korapsyon at sa pagnanakaw sa ating bansa,” Aquino said.

“Karapatan po ng bawat Pilipino malaman kung saan nagagamit ang pera ng bayan. Kaya kung seryoso tayo sa laban sa korapsyon, simulan po natin sa pinakasimpleng solusyon: ipakita po sa taumbayan kung saan napupunta ang pinaghirapan pong pera nila,” he added.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) earlier committed to implement Senate Bill No. 1330 within one budget cycle once enacted.

“Sec. Henry (Aguda), itong pangarap ko na lahat ng mga budget documents ay malalagay sa blockchain at available sila sa tao. In the version that we have now in the committee, it’s a three-year timeline. Tingin niyo po ba masyadong mahaba iyong three years na timeline, Secretary?” Aquino asked DICT Secretary Henry Aguda during the budget hearing.

“Dapat one year lang para tapos na sa isang budget cycle,” Aguda replied, expressing confidence in the government’s readiness to adopt blockchain technology for greater transparency and accountability.

“I’ve seen this in almost all departments right now. To them, kailangang mag-digitize na and mataas ang reception nila in welcoming the use of blockchain. Any digital solution that will give their agency a fighting chance against corruption, mabilis po nilang ina-adopt,” Aguda added.

Aquino lauded the DICT’s support, saying that putting the national budget on the blockchain will ensure the proper and transparent use of public funds “down to the last peso.”