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 creation of the Government Hub for Information and Verified Expenditures (G-HIVE).
Filed on Dec. 10, the proposed measure mandates the consolidation of all national budget documents, from planning, legislation, execution, procurement, to audit records, into a single, secure, and publicly accessible digital portal.
HB 6761 also aims to address gaps in the publication, accessibility, and traceability of fiscal information that currently hinder oversight and weaken public trust.
Under the bill, 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.
The measure further establishes clear governance and oversight through a National Budget Transparency and Accountability Council, composed of 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 provide verified audit trails linking every stage of the budget cycle. Its phased implementation will begin with agency-level disclosures and progress to full government-wide adoption within three years.
The bill also prescribes administrative and criminal penalties for non-compliance, deliberate concealment, or falsification of information required to be disclosed, reinforcing accountability in the management of public funds.
HB 6761 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. Both measures propose a unified and tamper-resistant digital system for the full disclosure of government financial transactions.
Through this initiative, 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. ||
