Senator Bam Aquino issued an urgent call to Congress and the executive branch to immediately pass the CADENA Act to ensure full accountability in flood control and public infrastructure spending, as severe flooding across Metro Manila and Regions 1 to 7 leaves hundreds of thousands of families displaced and livelihoods damaged.
In a privilege speech delivered on the Senate floor this Tuesday, he reminded the government that while emergency relief is crucial, long-term systemic reform is urgently needed to address recurring flood crises and root out corruption in public works.
“Nakita ho natin na daan-daang libong pamilya ‘yong na perwisyo at mayro’n na rin pong mga namatay… hinding-hindi makakalimutan ng taong bayan ang isyu ng flood control dahil kada taon nagkakaroon po ng pagbaha dito posa ating bansa…noong nakaraang taon ang sabiho nila ikulong ang sangkot ibalik ang perabaguhin ang sistema,” he said.
The CADENA Act or Citizens’ Act and Disclosure of Expenditure for National Accountability and formerly referred to as the Blockchain Budget Bill, was unanimously passed by the Senate on third and final reading with a 17-0 vote in December 2025. President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. previously certified the bill as urgent, recognizing its potential to transform government transparency.
“Lahat po tayo dito nagkaisa. Upang ipasa ang isang panukala na siyang puwedeng maging napakalakas na sandata laban po sa korapsyon.… alam ho natin na kapag napasa po ‘yong kadena lahat ng mga mailalantad na po. Lahat ng mga kontrata mailalantad na po. Lahat ng pinupuntahan ng pera ng bayan mailalantad na … Kaya ho no’ng sinulong ho natin to lahat ho tayo nagsaya. And we congratulated each other for doing a reform which is so bold. So revolutionary na puwede po talaga itong maging hakbang laban sa korapsyon sa ating bansa,” he said.
Co-crafted alongside over 250 civil society organizations and governance experts, the CADENA Act leverages blockchain technology to make every peso of taxpayer money fully traceable. Once enacted, it will publicly expose every government contract, contractor details, project costs and even raw material prices such as cement for infrastructure projects.
However, despite Senate approval and executive certification, the measure has remained pending in the House of Representatives for seven months.
“Napasa po natin dito po sa Senado seventeen zero last December twenty twenty-five ang bill po na ito ‘pag naging batas masisigurado na ang bawat piso na siya pong binabayaran na buwis ng ating mga kababayan makikita at mata-track.
Ang hinihiling ko po sana Mister President makitaho natin ‘yong ating pagsasama-sama at pagtutulungan upang mapasa ito na makita ho sana natin do’n rin po sa kongreso. Na kung saan ito po’y naghihintay pa rin,” he said.
The senator expressed deep concern after discovering that the CADENA Act had slipped from the top three priority measures of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) in 2025 down to number 41 on NEDA’s updated list.
“Gusto ko pong malaman kung ‘yung pagbaba po ng numero is this is a matter of priority or kasing halaga pa rin po ang pagpasa ng CADENA Act dito po sa ating Kamara kasama po ng kongreso kasama po ng ehekutibo dahil ‘yan po ‘yong LEDAC,” he said.
He stressed that changing the system rests squarely on the shoulders of the legislature. He cautioned that any delay in passing the bill plays into the hands of those who fear transparency.
“Kung mayro’n po mang tumitigil ng CADENA, Mister President, siguro po ‘yon ‘yong mga tao na natatakot na may mailantad dito po sa ating national [budget],” he added.
Responding to Aquino’s manifestation, Senator Win Gatchalian assured the chamber that Senate leadership held emergency talks with the Speaker of the House to give special attention to CADENA and push for its swift passage.
Closing his manifestation, Aquino urged lawmakers not to wait for another catastrophic climate disaster before enacting systemic safeguards.
“Huwag na ho nating hintayin ang isa pang matinding pagbaha sa ating bansa bago po mapasa ang napakahalagang panukalang ito,” Aquino said.
