DICT encourages public to register SIM card for better security

REGISTER EARLY The National Telecommunications Commission advises the public to register their mobile cards early once registration starts on Dec. 27. A person only needs to give his name, birthday, address, gender and a government-issued picture ID. —INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) reported as of March 7, 2023, that a total of 41,471,503 subscribers registered in the system, which is 24.54% of the 168,977,773 million subscribers nationwide.

The total number is consolidated from data reported by local Public Communication Entities (PTE): Smart Communications Inc., Globe Telecom Inc., and DITO Telecommunity Corp.

Smart Communications Inc. reported 21,115,477 SIMs registered, 31.05% of Smart’s 67,995,734 subscribers. Globe Telecom Inc. recorded 17,206,202 registered — 19.58% of its 87,873,936 subscribers. Meanwhile, DITO Telecommunity Corp. reported 3,149,824 SIMs registered, or 24.02% of its 13,108,103 subscribers.

Meanwhile, the DICT celebrates International Women’s Day on March 8, 2023. This event recognizes all women for their invaluable contributions to the social, cultural, economic, and political development that delivers positive societal change.

According to the United Nations (UN), women and girls use the internet with greater frequency during the pandemic, making them more vulnerable to cyber-harassment. This includes receiving offensive and sexually explicit emails and text messages and inappropriate advances on social networking sites. Through the SIM Registration Act, women and children will be protected from these violent and abusive exploits, scams, and fraudulent acts perpetrated through phone calls, text messages and online platforms.

Likewise, as the country continues with the resounding call for gender equality and empowerment of women, DICT Undersecretary Anna Mae Yu Lamentillo bannered the Philippine government initiatives and laws focused on women during one of the meetings of the 67th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW67) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, USA.

“Bridging the digital gender divide is crucial to achieving gender equality and promoting economic growth. Through policies, programs, and initiatives that prioritize digital inclusion and gender equality, the Philippine government is committed to ensuring that no one is left behind, that every individual, regardless of gender, has access to and can fully participate in the digital economy,” she added.

To ensure the security of user data among all subscribers, especially women, the DICT continues to remind the public to register their SIMs with their respective PTEs and be vigilant as they complete the registration process. Register only through the official links of PTEs:

• SMART – smart.com.ph/simreg or simreg.smart.com.ph

• GLOBE – new.globe.com.ph/simreg

• DITO – https://digital.dito.ph/pto/download/app

For complaints and concerns related to SIM Registration, you may contact the hotline 1326. You may also reach the DICT through these numbers:

SMART: 0947 714 7105

GLOBE: 0966 976 5971

DITO: 0991 481 4225

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SIM card registration: A step-by-step guide 

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