NTC urged to clarify ‘vague’ verification process under SIM Registration Act

Senator Grace Poe has urged the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to clarify some concerns regarding the verification process indicated in the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the SIM Registration Act.

“We note with grave concern the vague verification process under the said IRR,” said Poe in her privilege speech on Monday, December 12.

“The importance of having a verification process cannot be emphasized enough—it serves as the first line of defense against the misuse of our mobile telecommunication systems to perpetrate national security threats and identity theft in the case of end-users,” said the chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Services.

Poe made the call after the NTC released the IRR for Republic Act No. 11934 or the SIM Registration Act.

She said a strong and definite verification process like what is seen in standard Know-Your-Customer (KYC) procedures is a proactive guard against possible abuses in the system.

“In order to facilitate the immediate implementation of the law, we are constrained to trust the assurances given by the Technical Working Group (TWG) who drafted the IRR that the NTC will continuously issue the necessary guidelines to guide the telcos in the performance of their duties under the law, particularly specifying the processes for verifying submitted information,” added Poe.

According to Poe, this verification process may include the in-platform or in-website facial validation, such as a selfie scan that is required in online applications like GCash, and the cross-checking of submitted information.

“These are the sophisticated verification systems that we also see in model jurisdictions like Singapore which we all know has effectively implemented SIM registration,” she noted.

Poe reminded NTC that Congress will continue to exercise its oversight functions and shall monitor the strict implementation of the law.

She pointed out that the law was created precisely to stomp down the proliferation of fraud and crime in the communications system.

“We will not allow for it to be another avenue for the commission of fraud and identity theft,” she said.

“We also enjoin the telcos to invest in their platforms to make this transition and implementation as safe, convenient and accessible as possible for our mobile subscribers,”

“They are reminded of their duty to serve the end-users and to ensure that the purpose of the SIM Registration Act is carried out accordingly,” the senator emphasized.