Filipinos will soon have to register their SIM cards as President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. is expected to sign the SIM Registration Act on Monday, October 10.
This could be the first law that Marcos will approve since he assumed office on June 30.
Under this measure, unsold SIM cards will only be activated upon registration with a Public Telecommunication Entity (PTE) -- the telco companies and their representatives.
Existing SIM subscribers must register with their PTE within 180 days of the law's effectivity. Failure to register within the said period will result in the automatic deactivation of the SIM service.
The law covers both prepaid and postpaid SIM cards.
Last week, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said it was "very probable" that President Marcos would sign the SIM Card registration measure into law as there was no signal of a veto from the Chief Executive.
The SIM Registration bill aims to minimize the number of scams committed through text and online messages by regulating the sale and use of SIM Cards.
It could be recalled that former president Rodrigo Duterte vetoed the SIM Card Registration Act in April this year due to mandatory social media registration.
Required information
An end user would have to provide the following details in a registration form:
- Full name
- Complete address
- Date of birth
- Gender
- Cellphone number of the SIM card and serial number
They must also present an original and a true copy of any government ID with a photo, such as:
- Philippine National ID
- Driver's License
- SSS/GSIS ID
- UMID Card
- Passport
- Senior Citizen's Card
- NBI Clearance
- Police Clearance
- Firearms License
- Voter's ID
- TIN ID
- PRC ID
- OWWA ID
- PWD Card
- School ID (for minors)
For foreign nationals in the Philippines, they will have to provide the following details:
- Full name
- Nationality
- Passport number
- Address in the Philippines
They will be asked to provide the following documents:
- Return or departure ticket (for tourists)
- Passport
- Proof of address in the Philippines
- Alien Employment Permit
- Alien Certificate of Registration ID
- School registration ID (for students)
- Other pertinent documents
Registered SIM cards of tourists are only valid for 30 days.
Buying for others?
A person can buy or register a SIM card for another person as long as they are authorized through a duly notarized Special Power of Attorney.
The principal and representative present an original and a true and clear copy of any valid ID with a photo.
For minors, the parent or guardian must provide written consent with the registration form and valid ID of the minor and the parent or guardian.
Penalties
PTEs that fail or refuse to register a SIM card without a valid reason will have to pay a fine ranging from P100,000 to P1 million.
Breach of confidentiality will result in a fine ranging from P500,000 to P4 million.
Meanwhile, a jail time of six months to two years and a fine of up to P300,000 await those who will provide false information, fake IDs, spoof a registered SIM, or sell a stolen SIM.