Gov’t to keep an eye on telcos as SIM registration deadline looms

The government will keep a careful watch on telecommunications companies to ensure that they do not take undue advantage of the public as the deadline for SIM registration approaches, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Monday.

Under the SIM Card Registration Act, users have 180 days, or until April 26, 2023, to register their SIM cards or else face the risk of having these deactivated.

“I don’t want to posit any opinions on that matter. But I’ll only say dura lex sed lex, the law may be harsh but it is the law so if you want to wait for the last minute there will be a lot of repercussions,” Remulla said in an ambush interview.

“But of course our eyes will be on the telcos, not to take undue advantage. Kasi maraming ano ‘yan consequences, may mga disappearing load na naman ‘yan, merong pera na naman sa ano, sa GCash. Maraming consequences ito kaya dapat fair dyan ang mga telco,” he added.

Remulla said he would meet with a cabinet cluster on Tuesday to discuss the registration.

Last week, the National Telecommunications Commission said the government was not aiming for a 100% registration of SIM users.

As of April 19, 2023, 75,564,837 subscribers have registered their SIMs - equivalent to 44.97% of the 168 million subscriber base nationwide.

Smart and Globe have reiterated their call for the Department of Information and Communications Technology to extend the SIM registration deadline to give subscribers more time to secure the valid IDs required to register successfully. — DVM, GMA Integrated News