Finally, government-mandated SIM card registration rolls out today to protect users from fraudulent messages that often wipe out a person's mobile wallets and personal data — easy money for scammers but a big loss for those who worked hard to earn a dime.

Thus, the National Privacy Commission warned that the public should still be mindful of the spread of emails and text messages containing fake instructions and links on how to register their SIM cards and virtual wallets.

"Do not provide personal information through these emails and text messages, nor click any links/URLs," the NPC said in an advisory over the weekend.

"The NPC advises subscribers to wait for the official guidelines for SIM registration to be released by the National Telecommunications Commission, Department of Information and Communications Technology, and telecommunication companies," it added.

Following the release of the implementing rules and regulations for the SIM Card Registration Act earlier this month, telecommunications subscribers are now required to register their SIMs, or else their cards will be immediately deactivated.

"Thus, we enjoin every SIM subscriber or end-user to register their SIMs with their respective public telecommunication entities. The implementation of this law shall be at no cost to the end users.

Each PTE will set up a secure website or platform where users will register their SIM," DICT Undersecretary Anna Mae Lamentillo said in a press briefing on Monday.

The NTC released the IRR of the law, which stated that telco operators or public telecommunications entities who refuse to register a subscriber's SIM without a valid reason will face a fine of up to P1 million.

SIM card registration will be done electronically through a safe website operated by the telco companies.

Individual registrants need to provide their full name, birth date, sex, official address, type of ID presented and ID number. They also need to present a photo along with any valid government-issued ID to register their SIM.

All SIMs — including eSIMs and even SIMs intended only for data such as those used for wireless broadband modems, machine-to-machine communications and IoT or Internet of things devices — also need to be registered.

Meanwhile, businesses enrolling their data need to fill out the business name, address, and full name of the authorized signatory.

On the other hand, foreigners registering their SIMs also need to show their passports and address in the Philippines, among other things.

The rules also cautioned that there will be sanctions against subscribers who will give fake names or information in their registration. They can be imprisoned for up to two years with a fine of up to P300,000.

Relatedly, telcos are tasked to deactivate SIMs used for fraudulent texts or calls "upon due investigation."

A fine of up to P300,000 or imprisonment of up to six years may also be imposed on people who sell or transfer a registered SIM "without complying with the required registration." It also applies to sellers of stolen SIMs.

Lamentillo also reiterated that telco providers must "ensure that data from the SIM registration are secured and protected at all times."

"PTEs can only disclose information obtained in the registration when a subpoena has been issued by a competent authority in relation to an investigation that a specific mobile number was used in the commission of a crime or it was used to commit an unlawful act, and the complainant cannot ascertain the identity of the perpetrator," she said.

The DICT aims to accomplish the SIM registration nationwide within six months or until June 2023 but noted that the first two weeks will be a test registration. It means that registrations are valid but there could be some difficulties and minor errors as the PTEs fine-tune the implementation process.

Remulla: Public is protected

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla has assured that the implementing rules and regulations of the SIM Registration Act are not etched in stone and will be subject to amendments or alterations to make sure the public is protected.

"The IRR may still be subject to amendments or alterations and the National Telecommunications Commission is not precluded from releasing additional issuances to supplement the implementation of any particular provision or group of provisions under the IRR," said Remulla during the joint press conference of the Department of Information and Communications Technology, NTC, Department of the Interior and Local Government.

In his speech, Remulla said he is glad to be speaking to express the Department of Justice's support for the full implementation of the SIM Registration Act.

Citing the statement of Speaker Martin G. Romualdez, Remulla said "this may be the first of many legislative measures that would be signed and enacted into law by President Marcos Jr. in his six years of office."

He lauded the efforts of DoJ's partner agencies: The DICT, DILG, and especially the NTC in spearheading the Technical Working Group as the IRR was prepared and released within the record time of 60 days from the effectivity of the law despite the onset of the holiday season and the continuing challenges of the pandemic.

Poe: Make it secure, convenient

Meanwhile, Senator Grace Poe called on the government and telecommunications companies to ensure that mandatory SIM registration will be a convenient, secure, and easy experience for mobile phone owners.

Poe, the principal author and sponsor of the law, stressed that SIM registration should not be an additional burden to the public.

"The SIM registration should be as easy as texting or sending a message," she said as the implementing rules and regulations of the law take effect on Tuesday.

Poe noted that telecommunications companies, the National Telecommunications Commission, key regulators, and other concerned agencies should see to it that all hands are on deck for the orderly and effective rollout of the law.

"Telcos should have portals for registration that are user-friendly and secure to encourage mobile users to enlist without hassle and interruption of services," she said.

Poe said that the system should also provide the means to register people in need of assistance such as persons with disabilities, senior citizens, minors, pregnant and those without Internet connection.

Massive and constant information drive should also be undertaken to encourage subscribers to register their SIM and to assure them of the safety of their data, the chairperson of the Senate committee on public services said.

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