Palace backs SIM Card law amendments

The national government is open to amending the SIM Card Registration Act to enhance its effectiveness, with a key component of the proposed changes being the inclusion of mandatory in-person registration.

In a statement, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro said a review of the SIM Card Registration Act, Republic Act 11934, is necessary to address persistent text scams.

"The law regarding SIM card registration, this is one reason why text scams still occur. This should be reviewed again, for this law to be effective," Castro said.

She indicated that amending the law to require in-person registration would improve the process.

"As a lawyer, there needs to be an amendment. There should be personal attendance," Castro said. "We can manage to register these SIM cards properly to avoid scams."

Castro likened the proposed in-person registration to the process of obtaining a National Bureau of Investigation clearance.

To recall, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed the SIM Registration Act into law in 2022. The law mandates the registration of SIM cards to regulate their sale and use, aiming to ensure only registered individuals have access to mobile networks.

The law also intends to combat fraud by preventing criminals from using unregistered SIMs.