RA 11934’s IRRs
THE National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) would do well now to speed up the drafting of the implementing rules and regulations (IRRs) of Republic Act (RA) No. 11934.
Various quarters, including government officials and even ordinary citizens across the country, welcomed the new legislation, otherwise known as the “SIM Card Registration Law.”
For one, RA No. 11934 is seen as a very effective weapon against the use of the “wonders of modern technology,” like cellular telephones, in committing crimes.
Signed by President Marcos last Thursday (October 13), the new law is aimed at addressing the mushrooming number of text scams and spam messages in the Philippines.
“Panahon na para matigil na ang paggamit ng celfon para lang makapanloko ng kapwa,” said a former barangay official of Pindangan East, Alcala, Pangasinan.
He cited Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri of Bukidnon and House Speaker Martin G. Romualdez of Leyte for fast-tracking the passage of the measure in Congress.
The ex-barangay official also commended President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. for signing the bill into law.
In a “Laging Handa” on October 13, Secretary Ivan John Uy of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is already working on the IRRs.
Of course, we share the view of DICT officials that there’s a need to allow the online registration of SIM cards because of the number of SIM card owners in the Philippines.
Today, records show that there are about 150 million pre-paid SIM cards in the hands of mobile users.
