AFTER Christmas, the government will implement the Republic Act 11934 or the SIM card registration law. Under this law, we are all required to register our SIM cards.
But how does this benefit us, the subscribers?
Based on my experience, I spend a needless time of distraction because of unwanted text messages. It can ruin my concentration if I am doing an important task. Something must be done. I can’t resolve this on my own.
Why we have this law
I am grateful our lawmakers thought of freeing our cluttered minds from the garbage of mobile phone scams. At least, we can reserve our mental space for concerns relevant to our productivity and development—never on junks.
Finally, the law makes it easier for us. Our lawmakers pushed the SIM card law because of the proliferation of text spam messages enticing people to fall in their traps and the hack their personal accounts.
According to president Bongbong Marcos, registering our SIM cards will resolve crimes using this strategy and deter the commission of wrongdoing. Information in the registration of SIM will be treated with the utmost confidentiality. No one can access this information without a written consent from the subscriber.
How this is done
In the registration, we subscribers will be asked to disclose our full name, date of birth and address, and provide our valid government-issued IDs or similar documents. Companies and businesses must provide their registration and resolution, authorizing their representatives. Minors must register through their parent’s or guardian’s name. Tourists will also be required to register with their passports.
Consequence of non-compliance
What if someone becomes complacent and does not register his or her SIM within the prescribed period? Will there be consequences?
Under the SIM registration law, subscribers have six months to register or their SIM cards will be deactivated. All public telecommunications entities also need to register their SIMs before they can sell or activate these. Violators can face penalties or jail.
For lost or stolen phones
In case we will lose our phone, we can report this to our telecom provider. The telecom provider will then deactivate the lost SIMs.
Dissemination of information
Recently, the Department of Interior Local Government urged all local government units to raise the awareness of their constituents about registering their SIM cards starting December 27. But according to Leyte representative Richard Gomez, the information drive should be in the hands of the telcos and the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT).
We all benefit from this law. For me, the pros outweigh the cons. We can never allow scammers and distractions to hold the reins for us.
