Lack of IDs among issues in SIM card registration, says DICT's Uy

Information and Communications Technology Secretary Ivan John Uy said Tuesday that one of the issues being faced in the SIM card registration was the lack of identification cards of individuals, especially those living in far-flung areas.in far-flung areas.

"Marami pala tayong kababayan na walang ID lalo na sa mga liblib ang lugar po. How will they now able to register and validate their identity? We need to take that up to our team to address how we are going to validate lalo kung wala naman sila ID," Uy said during a Palace presser.

(We have a lot of kababayans who don't have IDs, especially those living in far-flung areas. How will they now be able to register and validate their identity? We need to take that up to our team to address how we are going to validate especially if they don't have IDs.)

"Never pa sila nakakuha. Hindi naman sila nagmamaneho, walang sasakyan doon so walang driver's license. Hindi naman sila nagbibiyahe so walang passport. Hindi naka-register sa SSS, sa GSIS, sa PhilHealth, Pag-ibig, wala," Uy added.

(They don't have any. They are not driving so they don't have driver's license. They don't travel so they don't have passports. They are not registered with the SSS, GSIS, PhilHealth, Pag-ibig, nothing.)

The DICT also said it will kickstart the assisted SIM registration in remote areas this week together with the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).

The rollout of assisted SIM registration for 15 identified remote locations in different provinces will commence on January 25 to 27, it added.

For its part, the Department of the Interior and Local Government has tasked concerned local government units (LGUs) to ensure the success of the assisted registration in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs).

The implementation of the SIM Card Registration Act started on December 27, 2022. 

All new SIM cards were deactivated then and subscribers have to abide by the process of the telcos to have their SIM cards registered and activated. Those who have existing SIMs have 180 days from the effectivity of the SIM Card Registration Act to register their numbers, or until April 26, 2022.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. signed the SIM Card Registration Act into law in October, which mandates all public telecommunications entities (PTEs) to establish their own registration platform where they will onboard their users who present valid identification cards.

This measure seeks to end crimes using the platform including text and online scams by regulating the sale and the use of SIMs through mandating registration to end-users. —KG, GMA Integrated News