Sen. Bam Aquino and Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima have renewed calls for the House of Representatives to approve the CADENA Act, a legislative measure designed to track national government expenditures on an immutable digital ledger.
The proposed Citizen Access and Disclosure of Expenditures for National Accountability (CADENA) Act cleared the Senate 10 months ago in December 2025. De Lima subsequently filed a similar bill in the lower chamber to mirror the Senate-approved version and avert bicameral delays, but the legislation remains pending in committee. The lawmakers issued their joint appeals as Congress conducts deliberations on the proposed 2027 national budget.
Aquino said public oversight must extend beyond the legislative approval of appropriations to track how state agencies disburse taxpayers’ money on the ground.
“It is the right of every Filipino to know where their hard-earned taxes go,” Aquino said. “The conversation should not end when the budget is approved. We must also monitor how every peso of the people’s money is spent.”
Aquino added that open digital records deter corruption by giving citizens direct access to line-item transactions, making it harder for erring officials to conceal irregularities.
De Lima warned against keeping the measure sidelined, arguing that unalterable accounting is critical to guarantee that emergency reserves reach front-line operations during disasters and climate anomalies.
“The national budget should be closely guarded so funds are available, especially during crises, disasters and threats like Super El Niño,” De Lima said. “Do not let it stall: enact the CADENA Act.”
The Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill No. 1506 on third and final reading late last year. While the measure initially secured backing from Malacañang and the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC), Aquino previously questioned why it lost priority billing on the council’s agenda.
Progress in the House of Representatives has slowed as lawmakers work to consolidate multiple blockchain-related proposals into a single substitute bill. (Read More: House Discusses to Consolidate 30 Blockchain and Budget Transparency Bills)
Disclosure: AI is used to assist in developing this article.
This article is published on BItPinas: Aquino, De Lima Press House to Pass Stalled CADENA – Blockchain the Budget Transparency Bill
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