NEGROS Occidental Third District Representative Javier Miguel Benitez has filed House Bill No. 6761, which seeks to institutionalize full transparency and accountability in the national budget process through the establishment of the Government Hub for Information and Verified Expenditures (G-HIVE).
The proposed measure mandates the consolidation of all national budget documents, including planning, legislation, execution, procurement, and audit records into a single, secure, and publicly accessible digital portal.
The House Bill aims to address gaps in the publication, accessibility, and traceability of fiscal information that currently hinder oversight and weaken public trust.
Government agencies will be required to upload expenditure-related documents within seven working days of issuance or completion, using structured, machine-readable formats with tamper-resistant technologies to ensure authenticity and prevent manipulation.
It will also establish clear governance and oversight through a National Budget Transparency and Accountability Council, which includes representatives from government, civil society, the media, and the private sector.
The Council will monitor compliance, enforce standards, and recommend improvements to transparency mechanisms across the national government.
G-HIVE will interface with existing financial and procurement systems and will provide verified audit trails linking every stage of the budget cycle.
Phased implementation will ensure readiness, starting with agency-level disclosures and progressing to full government-wide adoption within three years.
It includes administrative and criminal penalties for non-compliance, deliberate concealment, or falsification of information required to be disclosed, reinforcing accountability for the proper management of public funds.
House Bill No. 6761 also serves as the House counterpart of Senate Bill No. 1506 or the Citizen Access and Disclosure of Expenditures for National Accountability Act (CADENA Act) filed by Senator Bam Aquino, which likewise proposes a unified and tamper-resistant digital system for the full disclosure of government financial transactions.
Through this measure, Rep. Benitez seeks to strengthen transparency infrastructure, uphold the public’s constitutional right to information, and ensure the effective and accountable use of national resources. *
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