Veteran actor John Arcilla has joined the growing number of public figures and content creators calling for the passage of the Citizen Access and Disclosure of Expenditures for National Accountability (CADENA) Act, a proposed measure seeking greater transparency in government spending. Arcilla, best known internationally for his acclaimed performance as Gen. Antonio Luna in Heneral Luna, shared on Facebook a post by content creator Jaycon Verallo, who urged fellow creators to help amplify the proposal of Senator Bam Aquino.
“Calling all Content Creator na paingayin ang panukalang batas ni Bam Aquino ang ‘CADENA ACT,’” Verallo wrote.
He also emphasized that the measure should not be viewed through political lines.
“Walang kulay ang batas na ito. Dahil lahat ng Senador pabor dito, Kahit dito manlang magkaisa tayo,” he added.
The renewed calls for the legislation come as flooding incidents have affected various parts of the country, once again prompting public discussion about government infrastructure, disaster preparedness, and the use of public funds.
Senate Already Approved the Measure
Aquino’s Senate Bill No. 1506, or the CADENA Act, was approved on third and final reading by the Senate on December 15, 2025, with a unanimous 17-0 vote. No senator voted against the measure or abstained. Despite the Senate approval, however, the bill has yet to advance in the House of Representatives, leaving its proposed transparency mechanisms awaiting further legislative action. The measure has also been referred to as the “Blockchain the Budget Bill” because of its proposed use of blockchain technology to strengthen transparency and accountability in government budgeting.
John Arcilla Has Previously Backed the Proposal
This is not the first time Arcilla has publicly expressed support for Aquino’s proposal. In an earlier Facebook post, the actor praised the senator’s initiative and stressed that the proposed system is ultimately intended to benefit ordinary Filipinos.
“Ang panukalang ito ay hindi si Senator Bam Aquino ang makikinabang kundi ang Mamamayang Pilipino. Mabuhay po kayo Senator,” Arcilla said.
Arcilla also highlighted the potential of blockchain technology to make government budgeting more transparent and accountable, particularly when it comes to tracking how public funds are allocated and spent.
What the CADENA Act Proposes
Under the proposed CADENA Act, government agencies would be required to upload and regularly maintain detailed documents relating to government budgets and expenditures through a Digital Budget Platform. These would include documents such as government contracts, project costs, bills of materials, procurement records, and other budget-related information. The proposed platform is designed to make government spending information more accessible to the public while strengthening the integrity of the records.
Among its intended features are public accessibility, protection against unauthorized alterations, traceability of records, open-source functionality, and verifiability. The use of blockchain is intended to create a more reliable digital record of transactions and documents, potentially allowing citizens and other stakeholders to track government expenditures more easily. For advocates, greater public access to these records could make it easier to scrutinize government projects and identify discrepancies, questionable transactions, or other irregularities.
Growing Support From Artists and Creators
Arcilla is among several personalities from the entertainment, media, sports, and digital creator communities who have voiced support for the proposed legislation. Those who have previously expressed support include veteran actor Edu Manzano, Cinemalaya Best Actress Pokwang, radio host DJ JhaiHo, digital creator Aviona Starr, content creator Lexi Mercader, and vlogger Kimifierce.
Meanwhile, Mark Escueta of Rivermaya, theater actor Phi Palmos, former Pinoy Big Brother housemate Justin Dizon, actress and comedienne Inah Evans, influencer Andrea Guevarra, athlete and entrepreneur Enzo Bonoan, The Company’s Moy Ortiz, singer Cooky Chua, host Mela Habijan, and musician Aiman Borres have also shared or liked Aquino’s post highlighting the CADENA Act’s potential role in promoting transparency and fighting corruption.
The growing participation of artists and online personalities reflects an effort to bring the conversation beyond the halls of Congress and into social media, where creators can reach audiences that may not regularly follow legislative developments.
A Call for Transparency
For supporters like Arcilla, the CADENA Act is ultimately about giving Filipinos greater visibility into how their taxes and other public resources are being used. With the bill already securing unanimous approval in the Senate, attention now turns to the House of Representatives and whether lawmakers will take up the measure. As discussions surrounding flooding, infrastructure spending, and government accountability continue, advocates are urging citizens—including content creators and public personalities—to keep the issue in the public conversation.
For Arcilla and other supporters, the central message is straightforward: public funds should come with public accountability, and citizens should have meaningful access to information about how their money is spent.
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