The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is preparing to launch a prototype blockchain platform aimed at improving transparency and accountability in the national budget, following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s call to leverage emerging technologies in government processes.
DICT Secretary Henry Aguda said on Tuesday that a minimum viable product (MVP) of the system could be presented to Congress and the Senate as early as next week to demonstrate how blockchain can track government spending and reduce opportunities for the misuse of public funds.
“Blockchain is very feasible for this purpose. We already have the local expertise and technical capacity to develop and deploy it,” Aguda said in a Palace briefing. “Our goal is to present a working prototype to lawmakers so they can evaluate its potential before we proceed to full implementation,” he added.
Aguda described the initiative as part of a broader effort to digitize government systems and ensure that public funds are used efficiently. He said blockchain, the same technology that powers cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, offers built-in security features that make it difficult to tamper with records.
“It’s not impossible to hack, but it’s significantly more secure than many other technologies we use today,” he added.
The DICT chief said funding for the platform is expected to come primarily from private sector partners and foreign grants rather than taxpayer money. At least two international groups have expressed interest in providing financial support, he added.
“Industry and the private sector are ready to help fund this because it benefits everyone,” Aguda said.
He also addressed concerns about due process and privacy in the rollout of a new “block list monitoring dashboard,” which aims to automate the takedown of illegal websites. He assured the public that legal safeguards remain in place.
“Freedom of expression and privacy remain priorities for us,” he said. “We’re simply automating what was previously a slow, paper-based process—we are not changing the legal requirements.”
The proposed blockchain budget tracking system forms part of Mr. Marcos’ broader push for digital governance, transparency, and accountability in public spending.
