Senator Bam Aquino has filed a bill seeking the establishment of a National Budget Blockchain System to enhance transparency, accountability, and citizen participation in managing public funds.

Under Senate Bill No. 1330, Aquino proposes the use of blockchain technology to make every peso of the national budget traceable, auditable, and accessible to Filipinos in real time. He stressed that modern technology can ensure that funds reach their intended purpose and allow the public to confirm that resources are used properly down to the last centavo.

Aquino noted that while the national budget is one of the government’s most powerful policy tools, it remains difficult for ordinary citizens to scrutinize. Budget documents, he said, are often highly technical and inaccessible, making oversight nearly impossible even for those eager to check how funds are spent.

The measure aims to modernize budget transparency by creating an open and interactive platform for citizen engagement. Blockchain, Aquino explained, would allow collaboration between the Executive and Legislative branches, civil society, and other watchdogs, strengthening democratic participation.

If passed, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) will lead the system’s development, working with the Department of Budget and Management and the Commission on Audit. A public portal would give real-time access to digital public assets (DPAs), enabling citizens, COA, and oversight bodies to track funds across agencies, projects, and beneficiaries.