The Senate on Monday, December 15, approved the Citizen Access and Disclosure of Expenditures for National Accountability (CADENA) Act, a measure designed to place government budget records on a blockchain to boost transparency and curb corruption.
The bill, certified as priority legislation by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., passed third and final reading with 17 affirmative votes and no objections. It comes in the wake of a major corruption scandal at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Senator Bam Aquino, the principal author, said public demand for transparency following the scandal accelerated the bill’s passage.
“If you look at this transparency measure, kung hindi nangyayari iyong nangyayari ngayon na investigation, palagay ko walang chance iyan. Pero dahil iyong taumbayan nakatutok dito ngayon na may mangyaring pagbabago sa mga sistema na nagdulot ng ganitong klaseng corruption, may tsansa iyang mapasa,” Aquino said.
Under the CADENA Act, all government agencies will be required to upload and maintain budget-related documents—such as contracts, allocations, procurement records, and material costs—on a blockchain-secured digital platform. These files will be publicly accessible and tamper-proof. Noncompliant officials may face administrative and criminal penalties.