Voting 22-0, the Senate on Thursday, Dec. 16, passed on third and final reading a bill requiring the registration of subscriber identity module (SIM) cards for telecommunications us in the country.
Under Senate Bill 2395 or the SIM Card Registration Act, new SIM card buyers will have to present a valid government-issued identification card to verify their identity while those with existing SIM cards must register within 30 days.
Those who will refuse to present their IDs when buying new SIM cards or those who will not register shall be refused sale while existing services will be deactivated by their public telecommunication entity (PTE), respectively.
"The sale of a SIM card to a minor shall not be prohibited provided that said minor is accompanied by a parent or legal guardian at the time of its purchase and registration," the bill reads.
In filing the bill, authors said they aim to eradicate mobile phone-aided terrorism and criminal activities.
They also want to deter the proliferation of text scams; unsolicited, indecent, or obscene messages; bank fraud; and massive disinformation which cause chaos and disorder.
Under the bill, PTEs shall submit to the National Telecommunications Commission, the agency that will keep the records of information, a verified list of their current authorized third-party resellers, which will be prohibited from engaging in the sale of fraudulently-registered or stolen SIM cards.
PTEs and third-party resellers must comply once the bill is passed into law, otherwise they will be fined from P10,000 to P100,000.
A fine of P200,000 shall also be imposed upon the PTE, or its agent or employee, or third-party reseller who shall reveal or disclose any information of a subscriber obtained during the SIM card registration process.
Individuals who will provide incorrect information or resell pre-registered sim cards shall also be held liable.