Civic Group BetterGov.ph Launches OpenGovChain to Showcase Blockchain for Gov’t Transparency

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As lawmakers push for the adoption of blockchain in government processes, civic technology group BetterGov.ph launched OpenGovChain, a free and open-source platform that demonstrates how public data, such as the national budget, can be securely stored and transparently accessed through blockchain technology.

OpenGovChain Launch

Jason Torres, founder of BetterGovPH, together with volunteers Christopher Star, Christian Blanquera, Paul Amerigo Pajo, Francis Plaza, and Ray Edison Refundo, announced on Facebook that the OpenGovChain platform officially launched on October 7, 2025.

According to Torres, OpenGovChain was built to help the public, including non-technical users, better understand how blockchain works and how it could potentially enhance transparency in government processes.

“There is so much talk about blockchain recently, and people are bombarded by buzzword-riddled posts and articles out there, that I am sure people are still clueless about what it really is about. So I built a fully functional chain to store datasets. It’s free and open source. Anyone, any company, or any government agency can use it freely.”

Jason Torres, BetterGov.ph

He noted that the platform currently stores datasets from the 2025 General Appropriations Act, updating every few seconds to simulate a “Budget on the Blockchain” use case. Torres stated that the project aims to make blockchain concepts “more tangible for the general public.”

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Torres further stressed that the initiative also highlights practical challenges in implementing blockchain at scale. Among the key technical observations were slow data entry speeds, the limitations of decentralized file storage systems such as IPFS, and the need for reliable validators to maintain network integrity.

“This shows the lengths I will go through to prove my point that the blockchain is only a small piece of a broader solution to corruption. A comprehensive check & balance framework is what we need first.

Data on the blockchain does not necessarily mean truth. They cannot be tampered with, but they can also be biased to those who control the chain. And it is not that difficult to make now. It should also not need to be expensive.

See the source code as proof; I built it in about two to three days while still having a day job.”

Jason Torres, BetterGov.ph

OpenGovChain’s source code is publicly available, which they noted strengthens the project’s transparency and educational intent. The developer concluded that while blockchain can play a role in accountability, a robust system of checks and balances remains the cornerstone of good governance.

“Let Us be practical, it is a glorified, expensive, and very slowly distributed database. Our tax money is better spent on projects/people who really need it.”

Jason Torres, BetterGov.ph

OpenGovChain Features

According to its “About” page, OpenGovChain is a free and open-source blockchain platform developed by BetterGov.ph to promote transparency and accountability in government data management.

Built on the Cosmos SDK and powered by Tendermint BFT consensus, the platform enables agencies and organizations to store and verify datasets, such as public records and budgets, on a secure, tamper-resistant ledger.

Technically, the system records dataset metadata on-chain while storing the actual files on IPFS, allowing anyone to verify data integrity without exposing sensitive information. It is designed to be flexible and extensible, supporting additional modules such as on-chain governance, financial transactions, and identity management.

BetterGov.ph emphasized that OpenGovChain is tokenless by default, ensuring accessibility without economic barriers, though token systems or incentives can be added by developers.

Released under the MIT License, the project invites collaboration from government agencies, civic organizations, and developers to test and build upon the platform.

Data Flow & Process

1. Government agencies upload their dataset files to IPFS.
2. The blockchain records metadata and references (checksums, pointers).
3. Validators verify the integrity and authenticity of the data.
4. The public can query and download the datasets freely. 

What is BetterGov.ph?

BetterGov.ph is a volunteer-run civic technology portal that aims to make government information and services in the Philippines more accessible to the public. The platform aggregates data from various government agencies, providing users with a centralized hub for official services, public datasets, and agency directories.

Although not an official government website, BetterGov.ph operates as a community-driven initiative to enhance transparency, improve citizen engagement, and promote open access to information.

The portal also allows users to explore local government units, browse public services, and share ideas for improving governance and public accountability.

Here are the key services on BetterGov.ph:

• Open Congress API: Provides access via REST API to legislative data: bills, congressional sessions, profiles of senators and representatives, authorship of bills, etc. 
• SALN Tracker Philippines: Aggregates Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) records of public officials. Includes data on assets, liabilities, and net worth for various officials.
• Government Service Directory: A centralized portal that lists various government services, with filtering and search capabilities to help citizens find what they need.
• Real-Time Widgets & Updates: Includes features like weather updates, foreign exchange (forex) rates, and other live information for citizens.
• Multilingual Support & Mobile Responsiveness: The portal supports English and Filipino, and is designed to work properly across different devices.
• Government Structure & Official Info: Detailed information about government agencies, officials, and how the government is organized.
• Budget Transparency Dashboard: A tool showing national budget data (e.g. via a dashboard updated for 2025) to help users see where funds are allocated. 

Read More: BitPinas articles on the ongoing initiatives and proposals to utilize blockchain in government processes.

This article is published on BitPinas: Civic Group BetterGov.ph Launches OpenGovChain to Showcase Blockchain for Gov’t Transparency

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