Amid a series of corruption-related controversies that marked the country last year, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said it will promote transparency by using blockchain technology for the 2026 national budget.

“I am happy to say that the Philippines is the first legislative body in Asia to use blockchain for the national budget, and the first country in the world to have a fully on-chain national budget,” DICT Secretary Henry Rhoel Aguda said during a press briefing at Malacañang on Thursday morning.

Aguda said the documentation of the 2026 budget—from approval and spending to disbursement and reporting—will be fully recorded through the system, which he described as a “seal of truth.”

He also assured the public that the blockchain system is “101 percent” hack-free, explaining that while potential hackers may see the hash code, they cannot reverse-engineer the content.

DICT Undersecretary David Almirol said the agency will form a consortium with the Department of Budget and Management and the Commission on Audit to ensure transparency and accountability.

“What we are using now is a public blockchain, but the three agencies have joined forces to form what is called a consortium blockchain,” Almirol said.

“So, DBM, DICT, and COA will form our own nodes. When we say nodes, this is the ownership of the government. But this can still be powered or integrated, what is called a public blockchain, so that our citizens can still have access,” he added.

Aguda clarified that implementation of the Citizen Access and Disclosure of Expenditures for National Accountability (CADENA) Act is not covered by the agency’s current budget, but said the system is expected to roll out by February or March.

Bantay Padala, AI use

Aside from the blockchain initiative, the DICT also highlighted the Bantay Padala project, which aims to protect consumers from unregistered delivery riders.

“You will know who the reliable courier is. You will see if the complaint is fixed and your voice has an effect,” Aguda said.

“Last year, we focused on improving the rights of private express and messengerial delivery services. That is what delivers goods to your homes,” he added, noting that logistics services nationwide are expected to be upgraded by the end of 2026.

Aguda also acknowledged both the benefits and risks associated with the use of artificial intelligence, saying the government currently uses AI to respond to customer inquiries.

He urged the public to remain vigilant against AI-generated content, particularly deepfakes involving manipulated images and videos of public figures.

“If the video is not from a trusted source, do not pay attention to it. You can pay attention to it, but take it with a grain of salt,” he said.

Aguda said harmonized regulations would be crucial in managing the country’s use of artificial intelligence.