Although President Rodrigo R. Duterte has vetoed the SIM Card Registration Act, PLDT Inc. and Smart Communications, Inc. still have high hopes it will be enacted into law to protect consumers.
"We still are hoping to find a way to get SIM cards registered. That's important, not only for our business, but for Filipinos in general," PLDT chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan confirmed.
Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III announced this Monday (April 18) that he intends to override Duterte’s veto before the 18th Congress closes.
"Smart has long been in the forefront of consumer online protection and has been actively pushing programs toward this pursuit," Alfredo S. Panlilio, PLDT Inc and Smart Communications President and CEO stressed in a statement issued Thursday (April 21).
"This includes initiatives that keep our customers safe from scams and fraud, activities that uphold the highest standards of data privacy, and programs that promote safe online spaces for all, especially for children," he explained.
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"More than supporting the legislative process, we are also willing to share our own experiences, as well as our knowledge on the best global practices, to contribute to the success of the SIM card registration bill, if and when it is passed into law," Panlilio underscored.
"We also welcome any opportunity to support the government in developing the bill's implementing rules and regulations," he added.
"Before the veto, we were planning to work with regulators," disclosed PLDT Chief Legal Counsel Marilyn V. Aquino.
"We were looking for best practices abroad, including rules and regulations that were adopted and how they were applied, including challenges encountered and mistakes that can be avoided," she elaborated.
"The plan is to work with regulators so that we can share information on what has happened as well as what is happening in other countries so that we don't make the same mistakes. That was the plan before the veto happened, and we will continue to do that," Aquino pledged.
PLDT and Smart have been active in collaborating with government and regulators for consumer protection.
Through its Cybersecurity Operations Group, PLDT invested billions to beef up its cybersecurity defenses, not only to protect its own infrastructure but mostly to help protect customers from cyberthreats, phishing and scamming activities.
Both telcos campaign to educate customers and help them identify red flags that indicate scams and fraud.