SENATOR Paolo Benigno ‘Bam’ Aquino IV, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology, championed the passage of Senate Bill No. 1330, otherwise known as the Cadena Act (Citizen Access and Disclosure of Expenditures for National Accountability Act), during a public hearing.

The proposed measure seeks to mandate the full disclosure of all government transactions through a secure digital public-ledger system, primarily utilizing blockchain or similar tamper-proof technology.

Senator Aquino framed the Cadena Act as an essential and clear-cut solution in the fight against government corruption, placing the power to scrutinize public spending directly into the hands of the Filipino people.

The bill has undergone significant refinement since its previous hearing a month ago, incorporating feedback from experts on issues such as legislating specific technologies and sovereign hosting infrastructure.

Aquino stressed that the ultimate goal of the measure is to ensure transparency and accountability in the use of the national budget.

Senator Paolo Benigno ‘Bam’ Aquino IV, chairman of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology, speaks during a public hearing on the CADENA Act. Aquino framed the measure, which proposes using tamper-proof technology like blockchain for full disclosure of government spending, as a clear-cut solution to curb corruption and give the Filipino people oversight of their taxes. Photo courtesy of Philippine Senate

“Sa dulo po ng lahat, iisa pa rin ang pinaglalaban natin – transparency, accountability, at sa pagiging bukas sa pagbusisi ng budget ng ating gobyerno na siya pong pera ng taumbayan,” Aquino said.

The mechanism involves using blockchain or other technologies that can ensure data is secured, making information verifiable and immutable.

Aquino highlighted the unprecedented level of detail the bill aims to achieve, granting the public oversight over all spending, down to the cost of raw 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,” he said.

He firmly asserted the Filipino people’s right to know exactly where their hard-earned taxes are spent, linking transparency directly to the sincerity of the government’s anti-corruption efforts.

“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,” said Aquino.

The committee is currently deliberating on the bill and is gaining support among Aquino’s fellow senators and the public.