Senator Grace Poe (left) shakes hands with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr
The SIM Registration Act was passed into law with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s signing on Monday.
After years of championing this bill, even since the previous administration, Senator Grace Poe acknowledged the support of the current President.
It had been previously vetoed under the Duterte administration, but after current lawmakers revisited the bill and made the necessary changes in consultation with multiple stakeholders, Congress presented the revised bill to President Marcos Jr. and the latter finally signed it into law.
READ: Bongbong Marcos signs into law SIM Card Registration Act
Lawmakers pushed for this bill to ensure accountability and protect citizens from fraud, text scams, and terrorism.
In a statement, Poe said: “We applaud the President’s signing of this long-overdue measure into law. We worked hard to pass the legislation anew as a crucial first step to fend off text scammers while guaranteeing utmost respect to fundamental human rights.
“The law has instituted sufficient safeguards that accord primacy to consumers’ right to privacy to ensure a safe and secure mobile use in the country.
“Any information obtained in SIM (subscriber identity module) registration will be treated as absolutely confidential and cannot be disclosed, except in compliance with any law authorizing such disclosure or in adherence to a court order or legal process upon finding of probable cause.
“Breach of data and violations of the provisions of the law shall be meted with heavy penalties,” she added.
Many members of both the lower and upper chambers of Congress hope that this new law will lead to greater accountability, transparency, and security.
Sen. Poe, chairperson of the Senate committee on public services, sponsored the SIM Registration Act in the Senate.