NTC logs over 3 million SIM registrants so far
Two days after the implementation of the mandatory registration, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) announced that more than 3 million Filipinos have successfully registered their Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards.
In a “Laging Handa” public briefing, NTC Deputy Commissioner Atty. Jon Paulo Salvahan presented the tally of registrants per public telecommunication entity as of Wednesday, Dec. 28.
“Based on our initial reports, DITO said they already have around 530,424 successfully registered subscribers,” said Salvahan on Thursday, Dec. 29.
“For SMART, they already have 1,019,207 successfully registered subscribers, Globe 1,913,266,” he added.
Under the law, all existing and new subscribers shall register within 180 days beginning Dec. 27. Failure to register will result in the deactivation of a user’s SIM.
180-day project
Despite the glitches and other technical difficulties that monopolized the first few days of the measure, Salvahan expressed confidence that the country will be able to accomplish all the needed registration within 180 days.
“We have around 160 million to 180 million active SIMs. This 180-day period, based on the rate of our registration, will be enough,” said Salvahan.
Salvahan likewise told Filipinos that the processes will improve on the later days.
“Kung saka-sakali pong hindi umabot doon sa 180-day period natin, pwede pong palawigin ‘yan for 120 more days based on the discretion of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) (If by any chance we do not reach that in our 180-day period, we can extend that for 120 more days based on the discretion of the DICT),” he added.
Meanwhile, the NTC official reassured the public that there is nothing to fear as all the data and information sent to the service providers are safe.
“Kung makakapag rehistro nang maaga ay mas mainam po ‘yun para mas maaga nating ma-achieve ang magandang purpose ng batas na ito (If you can register early, that would be better so that we can achieve the good purpose of this law sooner),” he furthered.