House approves SIM card registration bill on 3rd reading

FILE PHOTO

The proposed law which implements the registration of prepaid Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards in a bid to reduce petty crimes and prevent kidnapping is approved by the House of Representatives on third and final reading on Wednesday.

Under House Bill No. 5231 or the “Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Card Registration Act,” buyers are required to present a valid identification card with photo to sellers when purchasing SIM cards.

Buyers are also required to accomplish and sign a registration form with a control number issued by the telecommunication company of the SIM card being purchased.

In the form, buyers should be able to attest their personal appearance before the seller and that the identification documents they have presented are true and correct.

Buyers of the SIM card shall personally accomplish and sign the form before the seller.

Those who fail to present a valid ID with photo and accomplish the form will not be able to purchase a SIM card.

One of the key provisions of the bill is that it allows telecommunication companies to deactivate unregistered SIM cards.

Muntinlupa City Rep. Rodolfo G. Biazon, one of the authors of the bill, said SIM card registration would “put a stop to the brazen theft of mobile phone units.”

Failure to comply with the measure entails penalties for both the seller and telecommunication companies: Sellers will be fined between P5,000 and P50,000 and may face suspension while telcos are fined P300,000 for first offense, P500,000 for second offense and P1,000,000 for third and subsequent violations.

The bill hurdled the House committee on information and communications technology in December. RC