Adjusted IRR of SIM Registration Act seen to be out next week —NTC

Amid the continued proliferation of text scams despite the implementation of the SIM Registration Act, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) said Thursday it is aiming to release the amended implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the law next week.

Interviewed on Unang Balita, NTC deputy commissioner Jon Paulo Salvahan said the NTC is set to conduct a technical working group meeting this afternoon, along with the National Privacy Commission (NPC), to ensure that all the adjustments in the IRR will be according to the law.

“‘Yung IRR tinitignan natin na by next week ma-issue na natin ‘yan since continuous naman ang meeting,” he said.

(We are looking at the IRR to be issued next week since the meetings are continuous.)

In the meantime, Salvahan said the NTC is intensifying its law enforcement efforts by coordinating with the Philippine National Police (PNP), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and other cybercrime investigating bodies to identify those behind the text scams and text spams.

At the hearing of the Senate committee on public services on Tuesday, NTC commissioner Ella Blanca Lopez said they have received more than 45,000 complaints on text scams despite the implementation of the SIM registration.

Another concern raised by NBI Cybercrime Division chief Jeremy Lotoc was that SIM cards may be registered with different names and even with a photo of an animal like a monkey.

Representatives from Dito, Globe, and Smart, for their part, said they have processes and features in verifying information and data submitted to them.

Salvahan also said these data undergo the NTC’s post-registration validation system with the telcos.

“When the subscribers register, hindi naman nakikita ng mga telcos ‘yun dahil absolutely confidential nga ‘yung data and information na sinu-submit ng ating subscribers. But meron tayong process ngayon, ‘yung post-registration validation, to know kung authentic ‘yung sinubmit na data and information ng mga subscribers,” he added.

(When the subscribers register, the telcos don't see the data and information submitted because those are absolutely confidential. But we have a process now, the post-registration validation, to know if the data and information submitted by the subscribers is authentic.)

The SIM Registration Act seeks to end crimes using the platform, including text and online scams, by regulating the sale and use of SIMs through mandating registration to end-users.—Giselle Ombay/AOL, GMA Integrated News