Register SIM card, avoid deactivation, public advised
TWO lawmakers are urging Filipinos to start registering their SIM cards or prepaid phone numbers to avoid deactivation.
Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte and Benguet Rep. Eric Go Yap made the call following the signing into law of the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Registration Act.
Both Duterte and Yap are proponents of SIM Card Registration because they were also convinced that illegal activities such as scamming were made through mobile phone numbers.
On Monday, the SIM Card Registration Act was signed into law by President Bongbong Marcos, making it the first enacted law by the country’s Chief Executive.
The measure was filed by Representatives Paolo Duterte and Eric Yap on the first day of the 19th Congress as House Bill No. 506, then substituted by House Bill No. 14.
“We are now entering a new era marked by innovations on digital security. The Sim Card Registration Act is a landmark legislation that will be part of our history books. This is not like any other measure (e.g. renaming of roads and other infrastructures) – it shall have direct impact on our day-to-day lives,” Duterte stated.
“With the passage of this measure, we are made accountable with the use of our sim cards. Your SIM card, now connected to your identity. But worry not, this law provides provisions on Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure of Information which prohibit disclosure of any information, unless upon subpoena or lawful order or written request in relation to an ongoing investigation, that a particular number requested is used in the commission of a crime,” Yap assured the public.
Duterte added that eith the proliferation of mobile phone scams and data breach, this is the only way to go and it is envisioned that our national security will be further strengthened through this legislation, as it shall assist law enforcement agencies in resolving crimes involving the use of mobile phone units.
“We urge our kababayans to register their SIM cards once registration has been established by your Public Telecommunications Entities (PTEs). The failure to do so within 180 days from the effectivity of this law will result in deactivation. Let us do our part as Filipinos,” Yap noted.
