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Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV’s proposal to place the Philippine government’s budget and transactions on a blockchain platform has sparked a wide range of reactions online, with citizens weighing in on the potential benefits, challenges, and feasibility of such a move.
Budget and Transactions on the Blockchain Proposal
During the Manila Tech Summit on August 27, 2025, Aquino announced that he would file a bill in the coming weeks mandating national budget transactions to be logged on-chain, allowing citizens to track every peso spent. On his Facebook page, the senator reiterated that the measure is meant to fight corruption, promote transparency, and safeguard future generations.
“No one is crazy enough to put their transactions on blockchain, where every single step of the way will be logged and transparent to every single citizen. But we want to start.”
Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, Senator, 20th Congress of the Philippines
In a recent Facebook post, Aquino announced that the proposal is now officially filed as SB No. 1330, or the Blockchain the Budget Bill.
“Bawat piso, kita ng publiko. We’ve officially filed the Blockchain the Budget Bill, isang panukalang batas na naglalayong gawing transparent at accessible ang national budget gamit ang blockchain technology. Walang tago. Walang lusot. Bawat kontrata, bawat proyekto — kayang i-track, i-audit, at unawain ng bawat Pilipino.”
Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, Senator, 20th Congress of the Philippines
In BitPinas’ posts (1,2,3), pro-blockchain voices dominated the comment section, which emphasized the transparency and accountability it would bring. There are also critics that argue blockchain adds cost, complexity, or does not fix corruption.
Pro-Blockchain Integration
Several comments offered short but positive reactions to the proposal.
Former senatorial candidate David D’Angelo also welcomed Aquino’s blockchain initiative and urged the public to support the measure.
“Thank you Sen. Bam for pushing for this. This was a core platform when I ran for the senate, Green Blockchain in Governance. I was the only senatorial candidate back then pushing for this. I hope this pushes through, so let us support Sen. Bam Aquino.”
David D’Angelo, 2025 Senatorial Candidate
In addition, Luis Buenaventura, the head of GCash’s in-app crypto trading feature GCrypto, also expressed support for using blockchain for government budgeting but stressed that true transparency depends on designing the system with full public visibility.
“This is such a large topic to comment on so I think I’ll say this for now: assuming this gets approved, the first step should be having 100% transparency with the budget and technical execution for this project. Blockchains are NOT inherently transparent unless you build them with public visibility in mind, so the development phase of this would literally be the most critical part.”
Luis Buenaventura, Vice President and Head of GCrypto, GCash
A number of commenters also voiced hope that the proposal would be implemented, saying it could help curb corruption in the country.
Discussions Sparked
The news also sparked discussion on blockchain use in government, where netizens argued over whether the technology could eliminate corruption. Some commenters stressed that blockchain transactions cannot be hidden, since all transactions are traceable on a decentralized ledger.
Others noted, however, that corrupt officials might still exploit intermediaries or front individuals to conceal illicit activities. Participants agreed that while blockchain could help track public funds, it must be paired with stricter anti-corruption laws to prevent powerful figures from evading accountability.
The same sentiments are highlighted in another discussion thread; some users expressed concern about the risks of placing government tax funds on blockchain, citing the lack of a top-tier cybersecurity system. Others countered that blockchain itself provides security since transactions are immutable and decentralized, making hacking extremely difficult and costly.
Suggestions
One of the comments proposed that the government adopt blockchain by creating security and crypto laws, raising public awareness, integrating a digital wallet into the eGov app for agency transactions, and ensuring nationwide connectivity.
He also suggested that blockchain-powered transparency could allow citizens to track government projects and hold officials accountable.
Another highlighted that while the Philippine government thinks the use of blockchain would make the national budget more transparent, they stressed that it should be paired with stricter anti-corruption measures, including stronger laws, political reforms such as an anti-dynasty bill and term limits, and stricter auditing of government funds and projects to prevent recurring misuse of public resources.
Another commenter suggested that all government expenses and salaries should be recorded on the blockchain, allowing the public to trace where every peso goes and who receives taxpayer money.
In another comment, a community member proposed applying blockchain to the Philippine Lotto system so all entries, government earnings, and bettors’ participation are visible on-chain, providing both proof and privacy.
In addition, one commenter recommended extending blockchain use to elections to prevent cheating and ensure transparency.
This article is published on BitPinas: Public Weighs In: Cheers and Doubts on Bam Aquino’s Budget on the Blockchain Plan
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