Civil society organizations and Philippine web3 organizations have launched a joint signature campaign urging the House of Representatives to immediately pass the Citizen Access and Disclosure of Expenditures for National Accountability (CADENA) Act during the ongoing legislative budget season. (Access the signature campaign here.)
The petition, spearheaded by the People’s Budget Coalition and BetterGov.PH, aims to compel lawmakers to establish a tamper-proof digital tracking system for all national budget allocations, procurements, and disbursements. Although the Senate passed its counterpart measure (Senate Bill 1506) in late 2025 via a 17–0 vote and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. designated CADENA as a top priority under the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC), the legislation remains stalled in the House. (Read more about the Cadena Act on BitPinas.)
Breaking the Information Monopoly on Public Funds
Advocates argue that placing budget data on an open digital ledger is essential to prevent recurring corruption, pointing directly to past flood control scandals where billions in public funds went unaccounted for.
- Under the current legislative process, budget insertions and line-item modifications are buried in thousands of pages of General Appropriations Bill documents, making real-time oversight nearly impossible for citizens, journalists, and independent auditors.
- By recording transactions on an immutable digital portal, CADENA aims to eliminate hidden amendments and “ghost projects” by giving the public direct visibility into every peso spent, including specific contractor payouts and project milestones.
Seven-Day On-Chain Mandate and Phased Rollout
The proposed framework introduces strict operational rules for government spending transparency:
- Mandatory 7-Day Reporting: Government agencies will be required to record and upload financial transactions, contractor details, and project progress updates within seven days of occurrence.
- DICT Governance: The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) will manage the system via a dedicated CADENA Program Management Office and serve as secretariat for the National Budget Transparency and Accountability Council (NBTAC).
- Implementation Timeline: Following enactment, the system will undergo a 6-to-12-month pilot program before a full nationwide rollout across all government agencies and state-owned corporations over three years.
Tech Advocates and Civic Leaders Join Forces
The signature drive highlights expanding convergence between tech-focused groups and traditional governance watchdogs.
- Key organizational signatories include Women in Blockchain Philippines, the Innovative Movement of the Philippines Association of Cryptocurrency Traders (IMPACT PH), Block Tides, Web3 Iloilo, Data and AI Ethics PH, Move As One Coalition, and the Philippine Institute of Cyber Security Professionals (PICSPro).
Civic leaders emphasize that transparency mechanisms must be installed before public funds are allocated, urging Congress to turn public demands for financial accountability into permanent legislative reform.
This article is published on BitPinas: Civil Society, Web3 Coalitions Petition House to Pass CADENA Blockchain Budget Transparency Act
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