Malacañang has strengthened its push for governance reforms by placing two major bills authored by Senator Bam Aquino at the forefront of the administration’s priority legislative agenda. The Palace confirmed that Senate Bill No. 1559, the Party-list System Reform Bill, and Senate Bill No. 1509, the Citizens Access and Disclosure of Expenditures for National Accountability (CADENA) Act, have been elevated to priority status for immediate congressional action.
The measures form part of the four priority bills identified by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. during the latest meeting of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC). Their inclusion, officials say, highlights the administration’s renewed commitment to political reform, fiscal transparency, and the protection of marginalized communities.
Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said the President made it clear that these bills must be acted upon without delay.
“The President directed Congress to prioritize the following proposed legislative measures: the Anti-Dynasty Bill, the Independent People’s Commission Act, the Party-System Reform Act, and the CADENA Act, which aims to institutionalize transparency and accountability in public finance. He also instructed both Houses to take a closer look at the four bills and prioritize their passage as soon as possible,” Castro stated.
Senator Bam Aquino expressed strong support for the Palace’s move, saying the reforms aim to correct long-standing flaws that have allowed powerful groups to manipulate systems originally intended to uplift those with less influence.
The Party-list System Reform Bill, Aquino said, is designed to restore credibility to the party-list mechanism and ensure that it truly benefits marginalized and underrepresented sectors.
“The party-list system was created to give voice to the voiceless,” Aquino noted. “But today, it is being co-opted by the powerful. Party-list reform is about restoring the dignity of the system and making sure these seats serve the marginalized—not those with political leverage.”
“Ginawa ang party-list system upang magbigay ng boses sa mga walang boses. Ngunit ngayon, ito ay kinukuha na ng mga makapangyarihan. Ang repormang ito ay tungkol sa pagbabalik ng dangal sa sistema at pagtiyak na ang mga upuan sa party-list ay tunay na nagsisilbi sa marami, at hindi lamang sa iilan na may impluwensyang pampulitika,” Aquino further emphasized.
Aquino likewise underscored the significance of the CADENA Act, which mandates full, real-time disclosure of government spending through a digital public ledger — a system he says will make it far more difficult for corruption to thrive.
“Ang pagbulatlat ng mga pinagagastusan—hanggang sa presyo ng materyales—iyan ang level of transparency na hinahanap natin. At iyan din ang pinakamalakas nating sandata laban sa korapsyon at sa pagnanakaw sa ating bansa,” Aquino said.
Now certified as urgent by the administration, both bills are expected to move more rapidly through legislative deliberations. Attention now shifts to the Senate and the House of Representatives, which are under growing pressure to act on the President’s call and deliver reforms aimed at building a more transparent, equitable, and accountable government.
