DILG told: Informing public on SIM registration is DICT’s job

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has been reminded against passing on to local government units (LGUs) the task of informing mobile phone subscribers to register their subscriber’s identity module or SIM cards.

Cong. Richard Gomez of Leyte’s second district said the mandate on information dissemination for SIM card registration falls on the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), which is the “primary mover” for the implementation of Republic Act 11934 or the SIM Card Registration Act.

“It is the responsibility of the DICT and the telecommunication companies to implement the registration of SIM cards, including informing the public,” Gomez said.

“Why give the burden of letting the public know about the pros and cons of the measures, and the registration methods, to the LGUs when these already have so much task at hand?” he added.

Gomez said that telcos such as Smart Philippines and Globe should not burden the LGUs since they earn hundreds of millions of pesos a day from mobile phone users.

“They are much richer than most LGUs. They should take care of their own business and problems because their profit are all theirs to keep and enjoy,” he said.

Gomez issued the reminder after the DILG declared early this week that LGUs should be responsible for informing their constituents about the need to register their SIM cards and where they can avail of the registration services.

Gomez, whose wife Lucy Torres is mayor of Ormoc City, said their hands are tied at this point as mayors have to contend with the pandemic and the onslaught of natural calamities such as typhoons and earthquakes.

He said that telecommunication firms could tap their distributors and retail stores to do the registration every time they sell a card.