An official of the regional office of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC 11) urged mobile device users to register their SIM cards starting December 27, 2022 to avoid deactivation.
The NTC released the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the SIM Card Registration Act on December 12, 2022, which will take effect starting December 27. Subscribers will have 180 days from the effectivity of the law to register their SIM cards. The registration may be extended by up to 120 days.
Under the measure, users of all mobile devices, including prepaid broadband devices, must register their SIMs.
“Ang IRR humana unya na publish December 12, 2022. Sulti sa IRR 15 days from the day of its publication mag take effect and that is karon December 27, 2022 mao ang first day sa 180 days sa SIM card registration. Ang tanan na ginagamit nato nga mga SIM kinahanglan na ipa-register within the six-months period kay kung dili nato ma register after six month that would be automatically deactivated,” said Nelson Cañete, regional director of NTC 11 during the AFP-PNP Press Corps media briefing on Wednesday at The Royal Mandaya Hotel.
Cañete explained that new SIMs sold starting December 27 will be in “deactivated mode”.
“Ang mahitabo karong December 27 tanan na mapalit nato na SIM automatically naa na sa deactivated status. Mugana lang na kung atong ipa register,” he said.
Registration is also free including registrations for embedded SIMs, broadband modems, and internet-of-things devices.
A registration form will be filled out electronically through a secure website provided by the telecommunications companies.
“I-register ang inyong SIM via online. I think si Smart ga text na sa atoa nga naa sila’y gihimo na portal or link na didto ta musulod. I think si Globe ug DITO nagahimo na and naa pod iprovide na link,” he said.
He also said for the registration in remote areas or locations without wi-fi connectivity, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), NTC, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and Department of Education (DepEd), as well as all telcos, will facilitate the SIM registration.
“Katong areas nga wala gyud wi-fi, unsaon man na siya? Ang NTC kauban ang DepEd mag formulate mi ug scheme ug muadto mi sa mga areas para ma register ilang SIM cards,” Cañete said.
The SIM Registration Act requires the registration of all SIMs, including those in card and electronic form, as a prerequisite to activation. The law aims to protect consumers from illegal activities such as scams, smishing, and other kinds of mobile phone and online fraud.
