SIM registration law takes effect next month

SEN. Mary Grace Poe on Wednesday said the full implementation of Republic Act 11934 or the “Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Registration Act” was set on Dec. 27, 2022.

“December 12 is the issuance of the IRR (implementing rules and regulations), so it will be effective definitely on December 27,” Poe said, quoting Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Ivan Uy.

Poe sponsored the P11.32billion proposed DICT budget for 2023.

The chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Services said a public hearing will be held on December 5 to gather inputs from stakeholders.

Signed into law on Oct. 10, 2022, the SIM Registration Act requires the registration of SIM cards as a deterrent to mobile phoneaided crimes such as text scams.

“As the text capital of the world, we hold precious our means to communicate and anyone who abuses or misemploys the system for their own fraudulent and unlawful interest must be traceable and subsequently held accountable,” Poe said.

Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito commended the law, saying it offers both immediate and long-term solutions to electronic communication-aided criminal activities.

“Nobody is safe and exempted from these illegal activities. If our Senate president and even our President were not spared from this evil deed, what more are our most vulnerable people in the society?” Ejercito said.

Under the law, registration is a prerequisite to the activation of the SIM. All owners must register their SIM within a period of 180 days. A grace period could extend the deadline for another 120 days.

Poe said an IRR would clarify details on SIM registration requirements and processes, giving telecommunication companies and the public adequate knowledge and time to comply.

The National Telecommunications Commission, in coordination with the DICT, the National Privacy Commission, telecommunication companies and consumer groups, is mandated to issue the IRR 60 days from the law’s effectivity.