90-day extension to register SIMs final – DICT

MANILA, Philippines — Information and Communications Technology Secretary Ivan John Uy said yesterday the 90-day extension for registering one’s subscriber identity module (SIM) would be the last chance to be given by the government to mobile users.

In an interview over dzBB, Uy said there could be no more further extensions.

“Please, register. You are already given 90 days more to register,” he said. “This is the final extension because the law does not give authority to extend again.,

Last Tuesday, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) announced the extension of SIM registration from the original deadline of April 26 to July 25.

The 90-day extension was approved by President Marcos. Uy explained that while they were intent on not sanctioning extensions, the law allowed a deadline extension if the circumstances warrant.

Uy said that with more than 50 percent of the total SIM cards in the country registered as of the announcement of the deadline extension last Tuesday, they were looking at getting some 20 percent of the total unregistered SIMs up to the end of the 90-day extension.

“Based on the statistics in other countries, the expectation is that only 70 percent of SIM cards issued are actually being used or have active users,U Uy said, noting that the 30 percent remainder are regarded as disposable SIM cards used by such groups as telemarketers.

At 70 percent, weAre looking at maybe a hundred million to a hundred-ten million legitimate SIM card users and we’re already at 82 million registered,” he said.

Uy reiterated the government’s aim to register at least 70 percent of the total subscriber base earlier placed by the DICT at 168,977,773, which he said was the percentage where they would capture the rlegitimatel SIM users.

The DICT chief also announced that the country s three telecom service providers have already upgraded their systems to make the process of SIM card registration easier.

He reminded the public that the SIM card registration can be done with barangay IDs as some individuals do not possess any government IDs.

Under Republic Act 11934 (SIM Registration Act), failure to register SIMs before the deadline will result in deactivation, rendering them unusable for voice calls, text messaging and mobile data services.

The SIM card registration was undertaken as part of the government’s effort to improve national security and curb fraudulent activities such as scams and identity theft.

But Uy issued a warning that scammers may use the 90-day extension to engage in their unscrupulous activities.

The DICT will gradually deactivate some SIM services such as access to social media accounts and block outgoing calls as the 90-day extended period moves forward.

Assist marginalized

Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co is urging the country’s top telecommunications companies to provide greater assistance to marginalized groups, especially senior citizens and persons with disabilities, in registering their SIMs.

The chairman of the House committee on appropriations emphasized that these citizens, as well as solo and working parents who are hard-pressed to fall in line at service desks and kiosks, require support to avoid being shut out of telecommunication services.
“Assistance must be given, especially to senior citizens who are unfamiliar with technical matters, PWDs and persons with special needs who have inherent disadvantages in following online instructions,” Co said.

He said Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez’s “key concern” is disenfranchisement so it was suggested that Smart, Globe and Dito should accept additional verifiable IDs in SIM card registration.

Meanwhile, Rep. LRay Villafuerte praised the government’s decision to extend the mandatory registration period.

A non-extension would have led to the disenfranchisement of the legion of legit SIM owners who had failed to sign up, thereby dealing a severe blow to the Marcos administrationAs efforts to fast-track our country’s digital transformation,” he said.