NIGHT OWL
Anna Mae Lamentillo
In the span of two weeks, more than 16 million subscriber identity modules (SIMs) have been registered following the implementation of the SIM Registration Act. Currently, we are on track because our target is to register at least one million SIMs per day to complete the registration for the estimated 170 million SIM subscribers within 180 days. But we hope more will register in the following weeks.
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), under the leadership of Secretary Ivan John Uy, is encouraging the public to register their SIMs already as soon as they can. Let us not wait for the deadline.
I hope more will be encouraged now that the process for the registration has improved. This is based on the statistics received from the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) Complaint Center. The number of complaints have significantly dropped from an average of 95 complaints during the first week, down to an average of 47 during the second week. Most of the concerns were about the SIM registration process, website malfunction or not loading, and where to register. There are also queries about how many SIMs they can register, the deadline for registration, what to do when they entered the wrong details, and concerns on data privacy.
Having the CICC Complaint Center gives us in the DICT and our attached agencies, a clear picture of the concerns of the public so we can relay them to the public telecommunications entities (PTEs) to ensure that we provide end-users an efficient way to register their SIMs.
Moreover, the DICT and its attached agency, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), is now working on the process for SIM registration for geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs). We are working with the PTEs and other government agencies, such as the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Education (DepEd), to facilitate the SIM registration and fast track the process in areas with limited telecommunication or internet access the soonest possible time.
As we encourage the public to register their SIMs early, we also reiterate our reminder to be mindful of fake websites, phishing, and other scams that may take advantage of people trying to register their SIMs.
The SIM registration is our protection against fraudulent calls, scams through text messages and even mobile apps. That is why it is very important that we register all SIMs as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, our Complaint Center Hotline 1326 is also a platform where the public can report other ICT related issues, such as their concerns on courier services, even cyber threats.
The goal of both the SIM registration and the Hotline 1326 is to ensure that ICT benefits the people. These are our tools to prevent mobile and online fraud, and even suppress crimes such as human trafficking, online sexual abuse and exploitation of children, and terrorism, among others.
We call on everyone’s continued cooperation with the SIM registration. We must work together to make the law work.