THE advocacy group iMk LENI has called on the Marcos administration and congressional leaders to restore the proposed CADENA Act to the government’s priority legislative agenda, warning that delays in passing the measure could weaken efforts to strengthen transparency and accountability in public spending.
Elmer Argaño, secretary-general of iMk Leni, said our group is urging President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III and Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian to restore the CADENA Act to the government’s priority legislative agenda.
In a statement dated August 28, the group called for the resignation of Development Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, following his recent exchange with Sen. Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV during a Senate briefing on the government’s legislative priorities.
The group questioned why the CADENA Act was no longer included in the shortened list of priority measures for the next 12 months. The Citizen Access and Disclosure of Expenditures for National Accountability (CADENA) Act, also known as the “Blockchain the Budget” bill, seeks to establish a digital platform where government budget and procurement records—including contracts, project costs and other expenditure documents—can be made publicly accessible and traceable.
Senate Bill No. 1506 was approved on third and final reading in December 2025. Aquino raised the issue during a Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) briefing on Aug. 27, noting that CADENA had previously been among the top LEDAC priority measures but had fallen to No. 41 in the longer list.
Balisacan explained that the measure remained in the longer LEDAC list but was not included in the shortened list because government and congressional leaders had decided to focus on measures considered critical for the next 12 months.
Aquino, however, questioned the prioritization, pointing out that CADENA had already passed the Senate and could therefore move relatively quickly if acted upon by the House.
The IMK Leni statement urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III and Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian to restore the measure among the government’s priority bills.
Argaño further said, stronger transparency mechanisms are necessary to enable citizens to track how public funds are allocated and spent, particularly amid continuing concerns over alleged irregularities in government infrastructure and flood-control spending.
As Argaño notes, “Our call was part of a broader demand for stronger safeguards against misuse of public funds, not just an endorsement of a bill sponsored by Aquino.”
The CADENA bill remains pending in the House of Representatives. In August, Aquino repeatedly urged the chamber to act on the measure, citing its potential to give the public greater access to information on government spending.
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