The Philippines’ SIM Card Registration Bill: When and How to Register

As of writing, the new SIM Card Registration Law in the Philippines, also called the Republic Act No. 11934, shall fully take effect after finalizing the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), which shall be issued within two months from the signing of the act. The IRR shall include guidelines on giving SIM cards to slowly eradicate the prevalence of SMS scams. The official IRR of the Philippine SIM card registration will be finalized with the involvement of the NTC alongside relevant authorized government sectors.

Implementation of the SIM Card Registration Law shall take effect 15 days after the completion of the guidelines and its publication in the Philippines’ Official Gazette. You should expect the actual implementation of the SIM card registration from October to November 2022 up to April to May 2023. However, the dates and further information are still subject to change.

Individuals who already own a SIM card are also required to register, and failure to do so shall result in the automatic deactivation of their SIM cards. These existing subscribers would have to register within six months from the law’s effectivity.

SIM card registration is free and shall be done online via the telecommunication service provider’s website. Here’s how:

1. The first step to registering a subscriber’s SIM card is completing a control-numbered electronic registration form. After filling out the full name, sex, date of birth, and address, the subscriber shall also be required to comply with the SIM number and its serial number.

2. As for minors, a parent/guardian shall bear his/ her name on behalf of the child upon registration. The SIM card registration form shall ask the guardian for his full name, sex, date of birth, and address and provide a government-issued ID or other legitimate proof of identification.

3. A subscriber will then be asked to present a valid proof of identification (ID) with a photo. Valid IDs include passport, Philippine identification, Social Security Service ID, National Bureau of Investigation clearance, police clearance, Unified Multi-purpose Identification card, Professional Regulation Commission ID, voter’s ID, senior citizen’s card, Government Service Insurance System e-Card, driver’s license, Bureau of Internal Revenue ID, Firearms’ License to Own and Possess ID, Prof Integrated Bar of the Philippines ID, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration ID, Person with Disabilities card, and/or other government-issued ID with photo.

Corporations in the Philippines are also required to register their SIM cards alongside complying with a certificate of registration, a duly-adopted resolution designating their duly-authorized representative, and special power of attorney for the registration of SIM of other juridical entities.

Telecommunication companies should secure the information of SIM card subscribers. Under the Philippine SIM Card Registration, telecommunication companies or direct sellers shall ask for a valid proof of identification before selling the SIM card to a consumer. Fraudulent acts in the registration of personal information shall undergo penalties.

Officer-in-charge and representative of the Office of the Press Secretary, Cheloy Garafil, declares that the Philippine SIM Card Registration in the Philippines is enacted to aid accountability in using SIM cards. Law enforcers and authorities can track crimes and unlawful acts using mobile phones.

President Marcos added that all personal information should be treated with absolute confidentiality unless access to the data is fully permitted and granted by the SIM card subscriber.

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