Zubiri, Romualdez sign first 2 enrolled bills under 19th Congress

Senate President Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri and House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Tuesday led the ceremonial signing of the first two enrolled bills of the 19th Congress, namely the SIM Registration Act and the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections Postponement Act.

"We've been promoting the SIM Registration Act even before, while the Barangay and SK Elections Postponement Act is very time-sensitive, so I think it is only right that these are the two bills are the first enrolled bills in the 19th Congress," said Zubiri, who also principally authored and co-sponsored the SIM Registration Act. 

The SIM Registration Act or Senate Bill No. 1310/House Bill No. 14, seeks to put an end to SIM-enabled text and online scams, regulating the sale and use of SIMs by requiring users to register their SIMs with valid identification.

"We need this law. The text and online scams are very prevalent," Zubiri said. 

"Scammers keep on finding creative ways to trick people, and we can't stop or even trace them because they are anonymous. New scam, new SIM, it is that easy," he added.

To recall, the previous version of the bill was also approved by both Houses in the 18th Congress, however, former President Rodrigo Duterte vetoed it due to a certain provision that includes social media platforms as part of the requirements.

Zubiri expressed his confidence that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will sign the proposed measure.

"I am confident that the administration sees the urgent need for this bill. We have also addressed the concerns regarding social media registration raised in the previous veto, we are hoping that there won't be any problem with it," he said.

"Hopefully these first enrolled bills will now turn into our first two laws. We are now having a good and effective working relationship with the House, and if our bicameral sessions for these two bills are anything to go by, then I think we can all expect to have a very active and productive 19th Congress," Zubiri added.

On the part of the Senate, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, Senators Grace Poe, Imee Marcos, and JV Ejercito were present.

House Majority Leader Mannix Dalipe, Representatives Toby Tiangco, and Yoyette Ferrer were also in attendance.

The signed copies of the enrolled bills were turned over to Presidential Legislative Liaison Office Secretary Mark Llandro "Dong" Mendoza for the approval and signature of the Chief Executive.