Baguio local government begins blockchain use for transparency

BAGUIO CITY — The Baguio City government said it has started uploading important and confidential documents to its new blockchain system to improve transparency and protect official records.

Baguio City Administrator Vittorio Jerico L. Cawis said this giant leap to greater transparency aims to keep key government papers secure and harder to tamper with.

The system, created in partnership with BayaniChain Tech Inc. (BYC), will store financial documents, bidding records, and infrastructure reports.

Officials said this will help make information easier for the public to access while ensuring its accuracy.

Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong said blockchain will make government records tamper-proof and more open to the public, helping prevent corruption and build trust between citizens and the local government.

Management Information Technology Division Chief Francis L. Camarao explained that blockchain is a digital system that stores information in a transparent and hacking-resistant way.

Mr. Magalong also signed an agreement with BYC to officially adopt the technology.

The project, Mr. Cawis explained, is part of Baguio’s commitment to the Open Government Partnership, a program that promotes honest and accountable governance. It also supports the city’s long-term goal of becoming a more livable, inclusive, and creative city by 2043. — Artemio A. Dumlao