INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives on Wednesday night ratified the bicameral committee report on a measure requiring the registration of subscriber identity module (SIM) cards, a measure seen to curb the proliferation of text spam and scams. Speaker Martin Romualdez said the bill “may be the first of the many legislative measures that will be signed and enacted into law by President Marcos in his six years of office.”
In a statement, he said the approval of the bill is timely amid the continuing proliferation of malicious text messages victimizing telco users.
“This act will not only help promote responsibility in the end-users of SIMs for electronic devices but also provide our law enforcers the necessary tools to resolve crimes involving telecommunication devices,” Romualdez said.
He added: “This bill no longer contains the controversial provision that orders the mandatory registration of social media accounts.”
The speaker is the main author of House Bill No. 14, together with Representatives Ferdinand Alexander Marcos, Yedda Marie Romualdez and Jude Acidre as coauthors.
Under the bill, all new SIMs will be in a deactivated state, and end-users are required to register their SIMs with the concerned public telecommunication entity (PTE) as a prerequisite to activation.
On the other hand, all existing SIM subscribers are required to register with their respective PTEs within 180 days of the effectivity of the law. The Department of Information and Communications Technology is allowed to extend the registration for a period not exceeding 120 days.
Failure to register the SIM within the prescribed period will result in automatic deactivation and may only be reactivated after it is registered in compliance with the requirements of the law.
New forms to fill
Under the measure, a SIM owner is required to submit a duly accomplished control-numbered registration form containing his full name, date of birth, sex and address for registration.
The registration process also requires the input of the assigned number of the SIM with its serial number.
The form shall be accomplished electronically through a platform or website of the concerned PTE and should include a declaration of the end-user that the identification documents he presented are true and correct, and that he is the same person who accomplished the registration form.
To verify the identity of the end-user, he is required to present valid government-issued identification cards or similar documents with his photograph.
As to corporations, they are required to present their certificate of registration and duly adopted resolution designating their duly authorized representative, and special power of attorney for the registration of SIM of other juridical entities.
A SIM may be registered for the use of a minor but it shall be under the name of his parent or guardian who gave their consent and registered the same.
End-users who are foreign nationals are required to register their name, nationality, passport number and address in the Philippines.
Tourists will be required to present their passport, proof of address in the Philippines, and return ticket to their country or any other ticket showing the date and time of their departure from the Philippines.
Their registered SIM will only be valid for 30 days and shall be automatically deactivated upon expiration of validity.