INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — People can rest easy.
A lawmaker has calmed public nerves by telling them they have plenty of time to register their subscriber identity module (SIM) cards, as 180 days have been given for the registration process.
Kabayan Rep. Ron Salo also said in a statement on Tuesday that if the government sees the need to extend the 180 days stated in Republic Act No. 11934 or the SIM Registration Act, it will do so.
“The people should not be worried if they are not immediately able to register their SIMs for the law provides a 180-day period to comply, which may be extended if necessary,” Salo said.
Salo said this after several mobile phone owners found difficulty registering their SIM cards, with many people not even reaching the registration site provided by the government and the telecommunication companies.
READ: Tech issues mar first day of SIM card registration
He said the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and the telcos, along with network providers, should ensure that people can seamlessly register their mobile numbers under the law.
“I am also reminding the NTC and network providers to continually improve their systems to meet the demands of this law. I urge them to make the registration process as seamless as possible to make it much easier for our citizens to comply with the law,” he added.
R.A. No. 11934 was signed by President Ferdinand Marcos last October to crack down on phishing attempts and other scams sent through text messages of unidentified SIM Cards. Several government agencies, like the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) lauded the law’s enactment, saying it would help the government curb cybercrime.
READ: Bongbong Marcos signs SIM Card Registration Act
Under the law, all existing SIM card users must register their number to their name by submitting requirements — personal details, identification cards, business names, and other information — on a website provided by the telecommunication company that provided the SIM Card.
Non-registration would eventually lead to the SIM Card being deactivated.
READ: SIM card registration: Things the public must remember
Tech issues were a consideration when DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. urged local governments to provide sites where people can register their mobile numbers, especially in far-flung locales.
READ: LGUs must lead info drive on SIM Card Registration Act, DILG says
These concerns must be addressed. Salo said that the law ensures accountability for people abusing anonymity behind unregistered SIM cards.
“The SIM Registration Law enhances accountability among users in using mobile communications through mandatory registration. It aims to deter unscrupulous individuals from committing illegal acts [by using] mobile networks by making users’ identities known,” he said.
“I commend the Filipino people for their enthusiasm to comply with this law. It just shows our citizens are law-abiding, and they support our government’s initiative for an orderly society,” he added.