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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Visayas devider Negros Occidental solon files bill to boost transparency in nat'l budget process

Negros Occidental solon files bill to boost transparency in nat'l budget process

Published Dec 12, 2025 02:15 pm
BENITEZ (FB)
BENITEZ (FB)
BACOLOD CITY – Negros Occidental third district Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez filed House Bill No. 6761 on Wednesday, Dec. 10, to strengthen transparency and accountability in the national budget process.
“Ang pondo ng bayan ay para sa bayan at dapat alam ng bawat Pilipino kung saan ito napupunta,” Benitez said on social media.
(Filipinos should know where government funds are being used)
Benitez said the bill proposes the creation of the Government Hub for Information and Verified Expenditures (G-HIVE), a secure digital portal that consolidates all national budget documents, from planning and legislation to execution, procurement, and audit records, into one publicly accessible system.
“I filed the G-HIVE Act, a unified, secure digital budget portal that discloses government spending from planning to audit in one accessible system,” Benitez said.
The measure aims to fix current gaps in publishing, accessing, and tracking fiscal information.
It requires government agencies to upload all expenditure-related documents within seven working days, using standardized, machine-readable, and tamper-resistant formats to protect data integrity.
A National Budget Transparency and Accountability Council, composed of representatives from government, civil society, media, and the private sector, will oversee compliance and recommend improvements.
G-HIVE will integrate with existing financial and procurement systems and provide verified audit trails covering the entire budget cycle.
The bill outlines phased implementation over three years and imposes administrative and criminal penalties for failure to comply or for falsifying required information.
House Bill No. 6761 mirrors Senate Bill No. 1506, the Citizen Access and Disclosure of Expenditures for National Accountability Act (Cadena Act), filed by Sen. Bam Aquino, that also calls for a unified system for government financial transparency.
Benitez emphasized that the measure reinforces the public’s constitutional right to information and promotes the responsible use of national funds.
“Transparency is a democratic duty and a public right,” the lawmaker stressed.
“With G-HIVE, transparency becomes the norm and accountability a guarantee, building public trust and better governance for all,” he said.

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Negros Occidental Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez
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