THANKING President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for extending SIM registration by 90 days, Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co on Wednesday said telecommunication companies (telcos) should assist the poor and marginalized—especially senior citizens, persons with disabilities, as well as solo and working parents—in registering their cellphone numbers.

“Assistance must be given, especially to senior citizens who are unfamiliar with technical matters, persons with disability and persons with special needs who have inherent disadvantages in following online instructions, and solo parents and working parents who are hard-pressed to set aside hours to fall in line at service desks and kiosks,” Co said.

“We do not want them to be shut out of telco service because of problems stemming from being poor and marginalized,” said the chairman of the powerful House committee on appropriations.

Co also said that to avoid disenfranchisement—a key concern of House Speaker Martin Romualdez, telcos should accept additional verifiable IDs in SIM registration. He said telcos should use the extension to work with government agencies and private companies handling documents that verify a person’s identity.

“As I pointed out before, I still believe the major problem is the lack of acceptable identification. So I am reiterating my suggestion that the following become acceptable documents as these can be verifiable: 1. Barangay Residence Certification with picture and barcode; 2. Vaccination Card with QR Code; 3. Filed latest BIR Income Tax Return; 4. School ID with picture and student number; 5. 4Ps ATM Card with card number; 6. DSWD Social Amelioration Card with barcode; 7. DOLE CAMP identification card; and 8. PhilSys National ID physical card or electronic card,” Co said.

“For these identification documents to be usable for SIM registration, the agencies and entities that have custody of the databases should either give the telecom firms access to their databases or they should have a working arrangement for the verification of documents submitted,” said the president of Party-list Coalition Foundation Inc.

Right now, SIM registration accept the following IDs: passport, national ID, SSS ID, GSIS e-card, driver’s license, NBI clearance, police clearance, firearms license to own and possess ID, Integrated Bar of the Philippines ID, OWWA ID, BIR ID, voter’s ID, senior citizen’s card, Unified Multi-purpose ID, PWD card, and other government-issued ID with photo.

Co also encouraged cellphone owners to use the extension period and register their SIM ASAP. He said cellphone numbers are becoming the most common way to identify people, including in accessing public services like subsidy for 4Ps (the national government’s human development program, Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program).

“The 90-day leeway should not mean another excuse for SIM subscribers to wait until the last few days of the extension before they register. SIM subscribers must realize that their SIM phone numbers are means of identification and access to essential services as the country becomes more digital,” he said.

Co expressed gratitude to the President’s decision to extend the SIM registration period by 90 days. He said he himself proposed for only a 60-day extension.

“Nagpapasalamat tayo kay Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr sa pag-apruba niya sa rekomendasyon ng Department of Information and Communications Technology at telecommunications companies na palawigin ang palugit sa SIM registration,” he said.

“I requested and suggested only a 60-day extension but the President did better by pushing the deadline back by 90 days,” Co added.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Ryan Ponce Pacpaco