Most Filipinos favor SIM card registration

Most Filipinos are in favor of the SIM Card Registration Law and believe it will help combat text scams and other crimes committed through mobile phones, according to a recent Social Weather Stations poll.

Based on the survey conducted a week before President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. signed the measure into law on 10 October, 60 percent of 1,500 adult respondents expressed approval of the new law, while 17 percent disapproved it.

This gave a net approval score of +44, classified by SWS as good.

Meanwhile, 23 percent were undecided about the new law.

The survey also found that 45 percent of Filipino adults were already aware of the measure while 55 percent only learned about it during the survey.

Sixty-six percent believe that SIM card registration will help fight crimes done through cellular phones while 10 percent do not believe it will eradicate cellphone-related crimes.

Almost half or 48 percent agree that SIM card vendors can be trusted in protecting the personal information of the buyers while 20 percent disagreed.

The non-commissioned SWS survey was conducted from 29 September to 2 October using face-to-face interviews in Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

The sampling error margins are ±2.5 percent for national percentages, ±5.7 percent each for Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao, and ±4.0 percent for Balance Luzon.

Under the said law, SIM card subscribers are required to present a valid identification document with a photo to all public telecommunications entities or direct sellers for the purpose of registration.

It is the first-ever legislation that Marcos enacted, three months after he assumed the presidency.