Corruption will not be eliminated by Senator Bam Aquino’s proposed law, Senate Bill 1330, which aims to use a blockchain system for the national budget to ensure that every public fund can be tracked, is transparent, easy to audit, and accessible to the public at any time.

Blockchain is a technology that uses a distributed ledger where each “block” or record is linked to one another. In this kind of system, multiple copies of the budget record are distributed across various institutions. Because there are many copies, it becomes more difficult to alter the records, as other copies will show if changes were made.

The Computer Professional’s Union (CPU) mocked Aquino’s proposed law. The group said that using new technologies to solve the country’s problems is not wrong. However, society should not rely on technology to solve social problems.

The group added that any technology for monitoring is useless if the budget is not properly prepared from the beginning. Ghost projects can still emerge because contractors and politicians can falsify documents, just like what happens today.

The state itself is unreliable in its use of technology. As in its implementation of the automated election system in recent years, which was plagued with controversies and anomalies, the state tends to depend on private and foreign contractors for such projects.

Implementing blockchain technology may also cost billions of pesos. The government would require investing in digital infrastructure for its effective implementation and maintenance. According to the group, it would be better to allocate the budget for basic services.

“Many countries solve problems of corruption and budget monitoring without using blockchain or any other modern technology. Technology is not the problem; corrupt officials and a systematic lack of accountability are our main enemies,” the CPU explained.