NIGHT OWL Anna Mae Yu Lamentillo This week, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) activated the SIM registration in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs), or those with limited telecommunication or internet access. The government-led assisted registration in remote areas is intended to ensure that the implementation of the law is inclusive and that we finish the SIM registration on time.The DICT’s Free Wi-Fi sites will serve as the hubs for SIM registration in GIDAs. Last Jan. 25, the assisted SIM registration was held in Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte; Moalboal, Cebu; Palo, Leyte; Pangantucan, Bukidnon; and Malalag, Davao del Sur. Yesterday, Jan. 26, the areas covered included Atok, Benguet; Camalaniugan, Cagayan; Calumpit, Bulacan; Rosario, Batangas; and City of Zamboanga, Zamboanga del Sur. For Jan. 27, the following locations will be covered:

• Baco, Oriental Mindoro, covered court in Brgy. Sta Rosa 1
• City of Ligao, Albay, multi-purpose covered court in Brgy. Paulba, Ligao City
• Carles, Iloilo, covered gym of Carles in front of municipal hall
• Arakan, Cotabato, Emergency Operations Center (MDRRM Office) in Evacuation Center Bldg., Municipal Hall Compound, Poblacion
• Tagbina, Surigao del Sur, municipal gym of Tagbina

The DICT and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), as well as our partner agencies — the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Department of National Defense (DND), and the Department of Education (DepEd) — and the public telecommunications entities (PTEs) have worked together for this assisted registration in remote areas. The DILG has already activated the concerned LGUs not only to guide and assist their constituents in the whole registration process, but also to promote responsible use of SIM cards and to educate their stakeholders on the benefits of SIM registration. Meanwhile, the DOJ are setting up NBI one-stop-shops. This will address concerns on the absence of a valid government-issued ID as SIM registrants can secure their NBI clearance on-site. We are reaching out to SIM end-users in areas with limited telecommunication or internet access to assist them in registering their SIMs, as we also continue to encourage the public to register as soon as they can and do not wait for the deadline. We would like to reiterate that the deadline for SIM registration is on April 26, 2023. The DICT, under the leadership of Secretary Ivan John Uy, is doing everything to help our citizens comply with the mandatory SIM registration.