ILOILO – Only one week remains before the implementation of Republic Act (RA) 11934, or the SIM [Subscriber Identity Module] Registration Act, ends.
The last day of registration is on July 25 or next Tuesday, according to Engr. Leah Dela Cruz-Doromal, chief of the Enforcement and Operation Division of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) Region 6.
“Sa aton nga mga pumoluyo diri sa Western Visayas, we have only one week to go for SIM registration. So kon sin-o pa gid to nga wala pa nakapa-register sang ila SIM card or ila numero kon puede magpa-register as early as possible,” Doromal reminded during an interview with Panay News yesterday morning.
Registering a SIM card only takes five minutes or less through official websites, and there is no need to be absent from work or spend much time, she added.
It would also be better, said Doromal, if subscribers would not wait for the deadline to avoid any possible technical glitch, especially as public telecommunication entities (PTEs) or telecommunication companies such as Smart, Globe and DITO expect an influx of subscribers on the last day of SIM registration.
“It will be automatic cut-off ang ila signal or madula ang ila numero, indi na nila magamit on July 26,” said Doronila regarding unregistered SIM cards past the deadline.
“Deactivated state” refers to the condition or status of a SIM that renders it incapable of being used for outgoing and incoming calls, internet access, or sending and receiving messages, except for exclusively enabling and informing such a SIM to be registered.
Will there be another extension?
Doromal said she has not received a formal announcement from the NTC central office or the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) so far that the RA 11934 implementation will be extended.
She said, based on her understanding of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR), the DICT could extend the deadline once, but for 90 days.
To recall, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. allowed the extension of SIM card registration starting April 25, 2023, but only for 60 days.
“We have only one extension, but kay tungod nga ginhambal naton nga 90 days ang extension, so depende ina sa DICT kon ano ang ila decision, pero kon mag-base sa IRR, we have only one time extension,” explained Doromal.
Last week, NTC deputy commissioner Jon Paulo Salvahan said there was no need for another extension since many active users had already registered.
As of July 13, there were 103,101,999 registered SIM cards:
* DITO – 7,278,422
* Smart – 48,798,163
* Globe – 47,025,414
PTEs ready for influx of subscriber-registrants
Here, Doromal assured that PTEs are prepared for a possible influx of subscribers this week leading to July 25, adding that PTEs have adjusted their systems in recent months when registrations were conducted.
“Ready gid always ang PTEs to accommodate sa gusto magpa-register,” said Doromal.
Here are the links to remember for the SIM card registration:
* for DITO subscribers – https://dito.ph/RegisterDITO
* for Globe subscribers – https://new.globe.com.ph/simreg
* for Smart subscribers – https://smart.com.ph/simreg
Doromal again reminded subscribers to provide the correct information when registering their SIM because there will be a corresponding penalty for those who give fictitious information.
Under the implementing rules and regulations of RA 11934, the penalty of imprisonment ranging from six months to two years or a fine of not less than P100,000 but not more than P300,000, or both, shall be imposed upon anyone who provides false or fictitious information or who uses a fictitious identity or fraudulent identification documents to register a SIM.
Meanwhile, these are the valid government-issued identification (ID) cards or other similar forms of documents with a photo needed to verify the identity of the end-user: Passport, Philippine Identification Card, Social Security Service, Government Service Insurance System e-card, driver’s license, National Bureau of Investigation clearance, police clearance, Firearms’ License to Own and Possess ID, Professional Regulation Commission ID, Integrated Bar of the Philippines ID, Overseas Workers Welfare Development ID, Bureau of Internal Revenue ID, Voters’ ID, and senior citizens’ ID, among others.
Only one valid government-issued ID is needed for the registration form./PN
