The IRR for SIM Registration Act is expected to take effect on December 27, 2022, according to NTC.
NTC – The National Telecommunications Commission recently released the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Registration Act.
To recall, it was last October 10 when President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. signed into law the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Registration Act (Republic Act 11934).
The IRR stated that telco subscribers who refuse or fail to register will have their SIMs deactivated, while public telecommunications entities (PTE) or telco operators who refuse to register a subscriber’s SIM without a valid reason will face a fine of up to PHP 1 million.
Telco subscribers will need to present a photo along with any valid government-issued ID in order to register their SIM.
All SIMs must be registered – including eSIMs (digital SIMs) and even SIMs intended only for data such as those used for machine-to-machine communications, wireless broadband modems, and IoT (internet of things) devices.
Telco subscribers will have 180 days from the effectivity of the SIM Registration Act to register their SIMs. Those who failed to register their SIMs will no longer be able to use it. According to NTC, the SIMs can be reactivated after registering, but no later than 5 days after deactivation.
READ ALSO: President Bongbong Marcos Signs SIM Registration Act Into Law
The IRR also stated that SIM registration will be done electronically through a secure website or platform provided by the telecommunications companies.
Individual SIM registrants will need to provide the following: full name, date of birth, sex, official address, as well as type of identification card presented and its ID number; while foreign nationals who will register their SIMs will need to show their passport and address in the Philippines, among other things.
Businesses that will register their names will need to provide their business name, business address, and the full name of the authorized signatory.
Telco subscribers who give fake names or information in their SIM registration can be imprisoned for up to 2 years with a fine of up to PHP 300,000. Telecommunications companies are also required to deactivate SIMs used for fraudulent calls or texts “upon due investigation.”
An imprisonment of up to 6 years or a fine of up to PHP 300,000 may also be imposed on those who transfer or sell a registered SIM “without complying with the required registration”. The said penalty also applies to sellers of stolen SIMs.
You can read the full text of the IRR below:
The NTC said on Monday that the IRR for the SIM Registration Act is expected to take effect on December 27, 2022.
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