DICT: No extension of April 26 SIM registration deadline ‘at this point’

With only a week before the SIM registration period expires, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) announced that the April 26, 2023 deadline remains.

The DICT made the announcement on Wednesday after it received pleas from public telecommunications entities (PTEs) Globe Telecom Inc., Smart Communications, and DITO Telecommunity Corp. to extend the SIM registration deadline.

As of April 17, 2023, only 43.47% of the 168 million mobile subscriber base nationwide have registered their SIMs or subscriber identity module.

The figure is equivalent to 73,033,833 registered SIMS, the bulk of which are from Smart comprising 36,115,938 registered subscribers.

Globe followed with 31,585,578, while DITO accounts for 5,332,317 registered SIMs.

Despite requests from PTEs and the less than 50% of total subscriber base being registered the DICT said that “at this point, there is no extension of SIM registration.”

The agency said that with the April 26, 2023 registration deadline drawing near, “we encourage everyone to register to promote the responsible use of SIMs and provide law enforcement agencies the necessary tools to crack down on perpetrators who use SIMs for their crimes, consistent with the declared policy of the law.”

The DICT also reminded the public that non-registration will result in the deactivation of their SIMs.

The deactivation of SIM will prevent a subscriber from receiving and sending calls and text messages and accessing mobile applications and digital wallets.

“The DICT reiterates that the SIM Registration Act places primacy on the fundamental rights of Filipinos and is replete with safeguards to ensure the confidentiality and security of user data,” it said.

“The DICT is one with PTEs in ensuring that Filipinos can enjoy safe and secure mobile phone services through the holistic implementation of the SIM Registration Act,” it added.

Under the SIM Card Registration Act, signed into law in October 2022, those who have SIMs have 180 days from the effectivity of the law to register their numbers, or until April 26, 2023.

The law also provides that the DICT can extend the deadline for another 120 days as it deems necessary.

The DICT earlier said it was studying the possibility of extending the registration deadline.

The DICT also reminded the public to register their SIMs with their respective Public Telecommunication Entity (PTE) and to be vigilant as they complete the registration process: 

• Smart - smart.com.ph/simreg or simreg.smart.com.ph
• Globe - new.globe.com.ph/simreg
• DITO - https://digital.dito.ph/pto/download/app

— RSJ, GMA Integrated News