As monsoon rains submerges Metro Manila and Central Luzon, Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV took direct aim at government economic managers, challenging Department of Economy, Planning, and Development Secretary Arsenio Balisacan over Malacañang’s sudden deprioritization of landmark anti-corruption legislation.
Despite passing the Senate with unanimous support, the CADENA Act has stalled in the House of Representatives for nearly eight months. The delay has sparked sharp criticism from Sen. Aquino, particularly following a Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) briefing where NEDA dropped the measure from its list of top LEDAC priority legislation.
The measure, which previously held the #3 spot on the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) priority list in 2025, quietly plummeted to #41 on the government’s updated roster.
“Nakalagay dyan yung governance and anti-corruption reforms. I would like to ask Sec. Balisacan, parang kulang po ata. Meron pong LEDAC measure na ipasan na po namin dito sa Senado, naisulong na po natin. In 2025 priority measure po ito, in 2026 priority measure pa rin po ito. Parang nawala po ata yung cadena or blockchain the budget bill. What’s the reason why it’s not on this list? Are you not supporting this bill, Secretary?,” he asked.
The senator pressed Balisacan on why a tool designed to expose ghost projects and track taxpayer money down to the last item was shoved aside just as public fury over substandard flood-control projects reached a boiling point.
Balisacan explained that the LEDAC leadership decided to shorten the priority list to focus on measures set for immediate enactment within the next 12 months. However, Aquino pushed back, pointing out that CADENA had already passed third reading in the Senate and only required House committee approval to reach finality.
“Mr. Secretary, marami ho rito wala man hong committee report. Philippine Budgeting Code, may committee report na ba yan? Wala pa. Yung right to information yan, meron na yan. Yung political dynasty nasa interpolation pa lang dito sa Senado. O yung party list pinag-uusapan pa lang natin. It’s very bothersome. Alam mo natin lahat how powerful this bill can be. Napakarami na po ang grupo yung nagsabi na nais nilang makita pasado ang batas na ito from inside the government, outside the government. Nag tataka po ako na bakit parang hindi natin to minamadali,” he said.
Advocates note that blockchain must be paired with competent auditors at the Commission on Audit (COA), stringent procurement mechanisms and strict legal enforcement.
Similar blockchain procurement systems are already operational in countries such as Peru, Spain and Colombia.
Supporters of blockchain law also highlighted the stark contrast between the slow pace of CADENAAct and the fast-tracking of other laws, such as the SIM Registration Act (enacted in 27 days), the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act (passed in 1 day) and the Petroleum VAT Suspension drafting (completed in 15 days).
“I’m just very I’m bothered. Nawawala po siya dito sa top priority measure natin considering patapos na po siya… It’s only waiting for the Committee on Appropriation for it to be finalized in the House. Konting konti nalang po yan. I hope we can pass this. This can be a legacy of this administration and this Senate and Congress. Na finally, we put all of the all of these measures on the blockchain makita ho ng taong bayan,” he said.
With PHP 100 billion allocated for flood control projects in the upcoming budget cycles, Aquino stressed that public oversight via digital ledger technology is the most effective safeguard against substandard infrastructure and ghost projects.
Civil society organizations, including the People’s Budget Coalition, have begun rallying behind the CADENA Act, urging Congress to fast-track its final passage to ensure that government expenditures remain visible and accountable to every taxpayer.
“Clearly some people don’t want to see this passed. Ayaw nilang mapasa to. Ang tanong bakit? Ba’t ayaw mong mapasa ang isang batas na makita nung tao kung saan napupunta yung pera nila. E di buking,” he explained.
Sec. Balisacan maintained that CADENA was not discarded entirely and committing to re-raise the bill’s status with executive leadership.
“Every time na baha, every time umuulan, pinapaalala ng Diyos sa ating lahat, yung kakulangan natin, yung pag nanakaw at lahat yan, we have to put an end to it. So how do we do that? Ikulong ang sangkot, ibalik ang pera, bagawin ang sistema,” he added.
