The Philippines is undergoing a technological shift to strengthen the transparency of its public spending. Following massive protests denouncing malpractice in infrastructure projects, the government has announced the creation of Integrity Chain, a blockchain solution aimed at restoring public trust.
A Context of Distrust and Popular Mobilization
Demonstrations gathering over 100,000 people have shaken the archipelago, particularly following revelations about inflated contracts, substandard construction, and even fictitious projects within flood management programs. These scandals have revived fears of the misuse of public funds and a lack of accountability.
In this climate of distrust, authorities have decided to bank on blockchain technology to make public processes more verifiable and less opaque.
Integrity Chain: A Blockchain for Transparency
Developed by BayaniChain Ventures, Integrity Chain is designed to record contracts and the different phases of projects led by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on an unalterable digital ledger. According to Paul Soliman, CEO of BayaniChain, government documents thus become “public digital assets,” openly validated and timestamped.
To achieve this, the system relies on Polygon (an Ethereum-compatible solution), which manages data encryption, validation, and storage. Every transaction is timestamped, chained, and verified by independent validators—including NGOs, universities, and media outlets—thereby guaranteeing integrity and traceability.
With a public budget that can reach $98 billion, the Philippine government hopes this system will redefine standards of accountability in every department and for every peso spent.
Restoring Trust Through Technology
The central idea of Integrity Chain is to replace political promises with cryptographic mechanisms, external validations, and the possibility for citizens themselves to verify the results. It is a bold approach: allowing the public to scrutinize expenditures in real time.
If everything works as planned, this system could serve as a model for other nations facing similar challenges of corruption and mismanagement of public funds.
