The Province of Bataan, led by Governor Joet Garcia, has officially joined the GoodGovChain network, a blockchain-based governance system developed by BayaniChain (BYC) Ventures. The initiative marks another milestone in local governance, bringing public records and legislative processes on-chain as part of Bataan’s long-term vision of becoming a model for digital governance in the Philippines.

The launch took place during the Global Emerging Tech Summit 2025 (GETS), where Governor Garcia and BYC Ventures executives unveiled the province’s first blockchain use case focused on digitizing local ordinances through GoodGovChain. This makes Bataan the first province in Central Luzon to publish and verify legislative records on blockchain, ensuring transparency, accountability, and long-term data integrity.

Governor Garcia has been a long-time advocate for digital transformation, hosting blockchain-related conferences in Bataan for three consecutive years to promote emerging technologies that can enhance governance and citizen participation.

From Ordinances to a Fully Integrated Digital Governance System

The initial rollout focuses on migrating provincial ordinances to GoodGovChain’s blockchain ledger, allowing citizens, policymakers, and partner agencies to access verifiable public data while safeguarding against alteration or loss. This step follows the successful launch of GoodGovChain in Baguio City under Mayor Benjamin Magalong, and serves as a first step toward a transparent nation powered by blockchain. Over time, Bataan’s roadmap will expand into broader digital governance applications such as digital ID integration, records authentication, budget tracking, and citizen participation systems, building the foundation for an interoperable and transparent local digital ecosystem.

BYC Ventures Powering Transparent Governance

GoodGovChain is part of BYC Ventures’ Digital Public Asset (DPA) framework, which also powers blockchain systems used by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). It is built using Lumen, BYC’s blockchain-as-a-service engine, and Prismo, its hybrid private-public Layer 2 infrastructure, ensuring compliance, security, and interoperability with national systems. Gelo Wong, Chief Growth Officer of BYC Ventures, shared how Bataan’s initiative continues the momentum of government blockchain adoption

‍“Bataan’s launch on GoodGovChain is the first step toward a transparent nation. Following Mayor Magalong’s pioneering implementation in Baguio,Bataan is proving that blockchain is ready to serve citizens at scale. Under Governor Joet Garcia’s leadership, the province continues to show what digital governance can look like when technology is used for trust and accountability.”

Paul Soliman, CEO of BYC Ventures, emphasized how GoodGovChain enables local governments to modernize responsibly

“Our collaboration with Bataan demonstrates how blockchain can strengthen governance while keeping institutions efficient and accountable. GoodGovChain ensures that every record has integrity and that trust is built into the system itself. This is how we empower governments to lead in transparency and innovation.”

A Roadmap for Replication

Following Bataan’s launch, BYC Ventures plans to expand GoodGovChain to more local governments across the country. The platform supports cities and provinces aiming to digitize records and public processes on blockchain. Its architecture allows seamless integration with national systems like the DBM’s blockchain and the Integrity Chain for DPWH, creating a unified framework for transparency and public trust. Gov Joet Statement:

“Bataan has always believed that technology should serve the people. By joining GoodGovChain, we are taking a decisive step toward a government that is open, verifiable, and accountable. Blockchain ensures that trust is no longer demanded but demonstrated. This launch marks the beginning of a new era for our province, one where every citizen can see and verify how governance truly works.”

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