PGMN’s first tech anchor details how a fragile blockchain concept was reinforced into a national solution

PGMN released a new episode featuring its first tech anchor, Ann Cuisia, who detailed how the early “Blockchain the Budget” proposal evolved into what is now known as the Citizens’ Access and Disclosure of Expenditures for National Accountability (CADENA) Act.

Cuisia, a longtime figure in financial technology and digital transformation, traced the origins of the proposal and described how the initial bill risked binding government to a single technology. She said the early version, while well-intentioned, created the impression that blockchain itself was the reform. According to her, this approach was “fragile” and would have made the law obsolete once new systems emerged.

Watch the full episode here:

She recalled opposing the original draft and presenting her concerns to lawmakers and other resource persons. Cuisia said the turning point came when it was clarified that blockchain is a tool rather than a governing principle. After discussions with private sector experts, civic organizations and the academe, she noted that the proposal shifted toward defining outcomes—such as tamper-resistant data, audit trails, verifiable records and complete disclosure—rather than prescribing a specific technology.

Cuisia emphasized that Senator Bam Aquino, who authored the early bill, was receptive to revisions and supported a move toward technology neutrality. She said this openness allowed more sectoral experts to participate and helped reshape the measure into a broader transparency framework.

In the episode, she outlined several key changes that emerged during the reform process. Among them was the shift from “uploading” to “publishing,” which she described as a way to ensure accessibility, open standards and accountability rather than reliance on heavy infrastructure. She also cited provisions on data sovereignty, requiring fiscal data to remain within Philippine jurisdiction, and noted growing interest from academic institutions to participate in oversight mechanisms.

Cuisia said the measure ultimately transformed from a tech-specific bill into a governance-focused act centered on public access, accuracy and durability. She added that CADENA establishes standards for transparency across the budget cycle—covering appropriations, allotments, obligations and disbursements—while preventing selective or partial disclosure.

According to her, the reform’s development was driven not by politics but by a collective effort across institutions, professionals and citizens. She said the CADENA Act represents an opportunity for sustained accountability, noting that while it would not eliminate corruption outright, it would remove the “shadows” that allow it to thrive.

The episode concludes with Cuisia underscoring that long-term reforms require humility, collaboration and public participation, and that CADENA is designed to outlast any tool, administration or technology shift.