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The “Blockchain the Budget Bill” hearing will decide a critical debate: mandate blockchain, or remain ‘technology-neutral’?
The Philippine Senate is set to conduct its second public hearing for Senate Bill 1330, the “Blockchain the Budget Bill,” on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, at the Sen. A. B. Padilla Room in Pasay City.
The session, held by the Committee on Science and Technology in a joint deliberation with the Committee on Finance, is critical for finalizing the bill’s framework before it can be elevated to the Senate plenary for a full vote.
At the center of the debate is a fundamental question: should the government mandate a blockchain-specific platform for transparency, or should it adopt a more flexible, ‘technology-neutral’ approach?
Why The Hearing Matters
- Formal recognition of blockchain in government operations could signal stronger institutional adoption and build greater confidence in the technology’s long-term role in the Philippines.
- The proposed transparency platform could open significant opportunities for grants, pilot projects, and innovation partnerships with government agencies, potentially creating a new wave of web3-driven public infrastructure.
More Details
While the official livestream will show the proceedings, the full list of resource persons and speakers for the November 4 hearing has not been made public.
What We Know So Far From Previous Hearings
During the first public hearing on October 2, 2025, DICT Secretary Henry Aguda and tech groups like Twala emphasized blockchain’s role in curbing corruption. However, other groups, including WeSolve Foundation, raised concerns about the accessibility of public records.
The session, led by bill sponsor and Committee on Science and Technology Chair Senator Bam Aquino, concluded with the senator noting his team would review the bill to be more “technology-neutral.”
This debate continued in a closed-door Technical Working Group (TWG) on Oct. 23 where Ann Cuisia advocated for the “Secure and Open the Budget Bill” as a more inclusive alternative.
How to Watch the Livestream
This article is published on BitPinas: Second Senate Hearing on Blockchain Bill This November 4; What You Need to Know and How to Watch
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