Online preferred mode for SIM card registration, says DICT chief

Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Ivan John Uy on Thursday said the SIM card registration process would preferably be done online.

According to Uy, physical registration will be difficult as people would tend to flock to registration sites.

"The preferred mode will be online po dahil sa dami po at hindi po kaya na i-physical [physical registration is not feasible]," Uy said at a televised public briefing.

"'Yan po ang ideal situation, online po ang lahat ng registration at submission ng mga verifiable documents katulad ng passport or driver's license or SSS, GSIS or PhilHealth cards upang maverify. Mahirap po ang on site registration dahil madudumog po ng mga tao ang locations na 'yan at di ho kaya. May 144 to 150 million po ang mga prepaid cards na na-issue," he added.

(That's the ideal situation, the registration and submission of verifiable documents will be done online. It will be difficult if it will be an onsite registration because people would flock to locations. There are 144 to 150 million prepared cards issued.)

On Monday, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act 11934 or the SIM Registration Act, which mandates all public telecommunications entities (PTEs) or direct sellers of SIM cards to require users to present a valid identification document with a photo upon purchase.

From the effectivity of the law, all existing postpaid and prepaid SIM users will be required to register within 180 days, or about six months, to avoid deactivation.

Uy said an individual can register multiple SIM cards as long as he or she is properly-identified.

"Wala naman pong limitasyon, ang importante po is 'yung SIM card, properly-identified 'yung owner," Uy said.

(There's no limitation. What's important is that the owner of the SIM card is properly identified.)

Uy earlier said Filipinos will be able to use government identification cards such as passports and driver’s licenses when registering their SIM cards if they don't have national ID.

Uy said the National Telecommunications Commission is already crafting the implementing rules and regulations for the new law.

"It (new law) will require 15 days ho to be effective after publication sa Official Gazette," said Uy.

"So once mangyari po 'yun, 'yung IRR malalabas po ng NTC within 60 days at ang palugit po ng registration ay 180 days o anim na buwan po," he added.

(Once it happens, the IRR could be released within 60 days and the registration will take place for 180 days or six months.) —KBK, GMA News