As floods continue to submerge Central Luzon and Metro Manila, Senator Bam Aquino called out Malacañang for its continued delay in advancing a proposed measure that would help strengthen the monitoring of national funds and prevent a repeat of the flood control scandal.

During a budget briefing in the Senate, Sen. Bam questioned Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan about the removal of the Citizen Access and Disclosure of Expenditures for National Accountability (CADENA) Act, also known as the Blockchain the Budget Bill, from Malacañang’s list of priority measures.

Sen. Bam noted that after being ranked third in 2025, the CADENA Act has now fallen to 41st on the priority list of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).

“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. 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. 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.

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

Watch the Committee on Finance hearing below: