Marcos to sign SIM Card Registration Act Monday

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is set to sign into law a measure that requires all SIM card users across the country to register with public telecommunications entities (PTEs).

According to the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS), the ceremonial signing of the SIM Card Registration Act will be held in Malacañang, to be attended by the lawmakers and officials from the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office.

“President Marcos’ decision to approve the measure will significantly boost government initiatives against scams committed through text and online messages, which have become more prevalent this year,” the OPS said in an emailed statement.

Under the measure, PTEs or direct sellers of SIM cards will be mandated to require users to present a valid identification document with a photo.

It also directs telecommunications firms to disclose the full name and address of the users as contained in the registration should a court issue a subpoena or order.

The measure is the consolidated version of the bills approved by the House of Representatives and the Senate, which requires registration to go directly through PTE platforms before a sim is activated.

Former President Rodrigo Duterte in April vetoed a version of the bill as he believed then that the proposed measure needed further study, according to then-Presidential Spokesperson Martin Andanar.

Major telecommunications firms earlier this year welcomed the measure and expressed readiness to implement the law once it was enacted.

Personalized scam text messages have become prevalent in the country, with the National Privacy Commission (NPC) having difficulty determining the source of the information.

Telco firms in June said they had blocked millions of “smishing” messages, referring to the practice of sending text messages purporting to be from legitimate organizations to obtain users’ personal information. — DVM, GMA News