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Senator Bam Aquino questioned Malacañang’s decision to lower the priority of a proposed anti-corruption measure as floods continue to affect parts of Central Luzon and Metro Manila.

During a Senate budget briefing, Aquino raised concerns with Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan over the removal of the Citizen Access and Disclosure of Expenditures for National Accountability (CADENA) Act from Malacañang’s list of priority measures.

Also known as the Blockchain the Budget Bill, the CADENA Act seeks to strengthen the monitoring of national government funds and help prevent a repeat of the flood control scandal.

Aquino pointed out that the proposed measure has significantly dropped in the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) priority ranking. From being ranked third in 2025, the CADENA Act is now listed at 41st.

The senator called out Malacañang over the continued delay in advancing the measure, particularly as flooding continues to submerge areas in Central Luzon and Metro Manila.

“Meron pong LEDAC measure na naipasa na po namin dito sa Senado na isulong 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.

(There is a LEDAC measure that we have already passed here in the Senate that we should push forward. It was a priority measure in 2025, and it remains a priority measure in 2026. It seems that the CADENA or Blockchain the Budget Bill has disappeared.)

“What’s the reason why it’s not on this list? Are you not supporting this bill, Secretary?” Sen. Bam asked Sec. Balisacan.

Sec. Balisacan explained that Malacañang and congressional leaders decided to shorten the list and prioritize key legislative measures that could be passed within 12 months.

Sen. Bam, however, rejected the explanation, noting that the CADENA Act had already been passed by the Senate and had also cleared the committee level in the House of Representatives.

The CADENA Act requires all government agencies to upload and regularly maintain detailed budget-related documents—including contracts, project costs, bills of materials, and procurement records—on a Digital Budget Platform.

The system is designed to ensure that all files are publicly accessible, tamper-resistant, traceable, open-source, and verifiable.

Government officials who fail to disclose required documents or who upload fraudulent information may face administrative and criminal penalties.

“This bill, which will put the budget on blockchain, pati ‘yung mga contractor, pati ‘yung presyo ng semento, ng pako, at lahat-lahat, napag-usapan na po natin from 2025 na mahalaga po ito.

(This bill, which will put the budget on blockchain, including the contractors, the price of cement, nails, and everything else, we have been discussing since 2025 as something important.)

“I want to understand: why is it not in the priority measure of the DBCC?” Sen. Bam further asked.

Sen. Bam also said LEDAC should have listened to the calls from various sectors that support the measure and want it passed as soon as possible.

He said it was concerning that the measure was suddenly removed from Malacañang’s list of priorities even as corruption in flood control projects remains a major issue.

“Alam ho natin lahat how powerful this bill can be. Napakarami na pong grupo ‘yung nagsabi na nais nilang makitang pasado ang batas na ito, from inside the government, outside the government. Nagtataka po ako, bakit parang hindi natin ‘to minamadali? Nung kasagsagan nung flood control scandal, we all agreed we would push for this, and push for full transparency,” Sen. Bam said.

(We all know how powerful this bill can be. Many groups have already said that they want to see this law passed, from inside the government and outside the government. I wonder why we don’t seem to be rushing this. At the height of the flood control scandal, we all agreed that we would push for this and push for full transparency.)

Sen. Bam further stressed that enacting the CADENA Act during the Marcos administration could serve as a lasting legacy for the administration.