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The CADENA Act would open government budget data to AI-powered analysis, making it interoperable and usable by tools such as ChatGPT, according to its author, Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino.
AI for Better Public Access
During Senate Plenary Session No. 29 on November 12, 2025, Aquino said that the CADENA Act aims to open government budget data to AI-powered analysis, which will enable the public to better examine spending patterns and project details.
In his sponsor speech, he explained that once the digital budget portal is operational, AI assistants could help users ask precise questions about national spending.
“Pag sinabi pong interoperable, this is the capability of different systems, platforms, or technologies to exchange, interpret, and use information in a [coordinated manner]. Ibig sabihin po niyan, isang halimbawa po diyan ay kapag ang Cadena [portal] up and running na po, pwede nating gamitin ang ating mga AI assistants, gaya ng ChatGPT at marami pang iba.”
Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino, Senator, 20th Congress
He added that government agencies and oversight bodies, including the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of the Ombudsman, and the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, could set up automated AI alerts to flag overpricing or anomalies in project documents.
Aquino emphasized that this capability is not limited to officials, the public could also use AI to analyze and track the flow of government funds in real time, making transparency dynamic, participatory, and actionable.
“Ganyan po kalakas at kagaling ang teknolohiya na abot-kamay na po sa atin. Pwede pong gamitin para sa mabuting pamamahala sa ating bansa… Pag napasa po natin ang Cadena Act, inaasahan ko po na mag-iiba ang mukha ng transparency ng ating gobyerno. Sa halip nakatago ang pagdedesisyon pagdating sa pera ng bayan, bukas na po ito ito para busisiin ng lahat.”
Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino, Senator, 20th Congress
Cadena Act: Two Key Provisions and Five Standards
Filed as Senate Bill No. 1506 under Committee Report No. 10, the bill mandates full disclosure of government transactions through a digital budget portal designed with AI-ready features.
Under the Cadena Act, all national government offices must record and publish budget-related documents, including planning, legislation, execution, procurement, contract management, and revenue collection.
Aquino highlighted two key provisions that would make the portal both enforceable and accountable:
- Full disclosure requirement – All budget-related documents must be uploaded to the portal in a structured, machine-readable digital format, ensuring they are traceable and verifiable.
- Penalties for non-compliance – Agencies failing to publish documents within prescribed timelines face administrative penalties, and deliberate submission of false or misleading information constitutes a criminal offense.
The measure also incorporates five technological standards for the Cadena platform to ensure accessibility and integrity of information.
Aquino stressed the importance of interoperability but also highlighted the other four:
- Digital format:– All documents must comply with open data standards and machine-readable formats for easier analysis.
- Traceable: Information on funds and projects should allow citizens to track the flow of money from planning to execution.
- Open-source: The portal’s source code will be publicly accessible, preventing dependence on specific vendors and allowing public auditing.
- Tamper-resistant: Data and documents cannot be altered without a clear, verifiable information trail, safeguarding against unauthorized changes.
- Interoperable: Different systems, platforms, and technologies can exchange, interpret, and use information in a coordinated way, allowing AI tools to analyze and answer citizen queries about government spending.
In the plenary session, the CADENA Bill garnered robust support from fellow senators. Key lawmakers, including Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Senators Robinhood Padilla, Joel Villanueva, and others, endorsed and co-sponsored the measure, emphasizing its importance in advancing transparency, accountability, and public participation.
Worth Reading: Bam Aquino’s CADENA Bill Receives Full Support of Senators
This article is published on BitPinas: CADENA Act to Enable AI Assistants Like ChatGPT in Government Budget Queries
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