PLDT Inc. announced that its mobile arm Smart Communications, Inc. will integrate the national government's one-stop online system or the eGov PH into its SIM registration process in order to curb fraudulent activities.
A statement by the telco on Thursday, April 4, said that Smart tapped the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to access the database of eGov PH.
eGov PH is a mobile application that serves as a one-stop shop for Filipinos to avail of government services, covering both national and local government agencies.
According to eGov PH's website, registration of accounts on the platform requires connection of a valid mobile number and verification through the applicant's Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) Number (PSN) in order to eliminate fraud in service transactions. The PSN can be seen on the PhilID (or National ID), which can be obtained from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
The agency also facilitated workshops with Smart's SIM registration team on how to implement the platform integration.
"Our collaboration with the DICT for eGOV is part of the PLDT Group's support for the government's overall digitalization thrust, with the aim of making government services accessible to more Filipinos across the country," said PLDT and Smart Senior Vice President and Head of Enterprise Business Group Jojo G. Gendrano.
Atty. Roy Cecil D. Ibay, vice president and head of Regulatory Affairs at Smart, added that the collaboration with DICT seeks to "help our subscribers protect themselves and their families from text scams, bank fraud, phishing, and other similar prevalent communication-aided schemes."
Aside from DICT, PLDT Group has also partnered with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) in digitalizing public services offered by local governments and streamlining permitting processes for critical telecommunication infrastructures nationwide.