SIM Registration: What You Need To Know?

Have your SIM Card not yet registered? Be hurry, register now!

Starting December 27, 2022, to April 26, 2023, all mobile subscribers are required to register for free their SIM cards, otherwise, unregistered SIM cards will face deactivation.

Update: According to the latest development, the SIM registration is extended for 90 days, which means the deadline pushes forward until July 25, 2023.

 

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. signed the SIM Registration Act 11394 on Monday, October 10, 2023. The act aims to promote accountability in the use of the Subscriber Identity Module or SIM and help Philippine law enforcers to track perpetrators of crimes committed through phones.

Here’s what you need to know.

Required Information

Anyone who has a SIM would have to provide and submit these details through a registration form or website provided by Public Telecommunication Entity or PTE

  • Full name
  • Complete address
  • Date of birth
  • Gender
  • Cellphone number of the SIM card and serial number

Documentary Requirements

Aside from the required information, you must also present an original and a true copy of any government ID with a photo, such as:

  • Philippine National ID
  • Driver’s License
  • SSS/GSIS ID
  • UMID Card
  • Passport
  • Senior Citizen’s Card
  • NBI Clearance
  • Police Clearance
  • Firearms License
  • Voter’s ID
  • TIN ID
  • PRC ID
  • OWWA ID
  • PWD Card
  • School ID (for minors)

Foreign Nationals / ExPat Required Information

On the other hand, foreign nationals also need to provide the required information, such as

  • Full name
  • Nationality
  • Passport number
  • Address in the Philippines

and they will be asked and present these documents

  • Return or departure ticket (for tourists)
  • Passport
  • Proof of address in the Philippines
  • Alien Employment Permit
  • Alien Certificate of Registration ID
  • School registration ID (for students)
  • Other pertinent documents

Registered SIM Cards are only valid for 30 days upon arrival of the tourist

Where to register?

The country’s major telecommunication providers provided online portals for SIM registration

These telcos have the option to assist and register their subscribers by visiting their physical stores, as well as on their apps.

For postpaid Subscribers, for Smart/Sun, you need to text YES to 5858. For Globe, text SIMREG to 8080.

How about I need someone to buy me a SIM Card?

All you need is a notarized Special Power of Attorney, stating that you authorized someone on your behalf to buy you a SIM card. Both of you are also required to present an original and true photocopy of the ID.

When you are buying a SIM for a minor (18 and below), together with the registration form, a parent or a guardian needs written consent, a valid ID of the minor, and a valid ID of the parent or the guardian.

What if I don’t want my SIM to be registered?

You only have 180 days or 6 months since the effectivity of this law (15 days after the law is published in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation) to register your SIM. Otherwise, your SIM card will be deactivated on April 26, 2023.

Update: According to the latest development, the SIM registration is extended for 90 days, which means the deadline pushes forward until July 25, 2023

According to Republic Act 11934, the deadline can be extended by the Department of Information and Communications Technology for another 120 days.

IMPORTANT: When your SIM Card is deactivated, you no longer receive calls or text messages. You’ll be also having problems browsing the internet using cellular data, accessing your GCash or other bank accounts, Social Media, claiming remittances and authenticating a social media account that needs One-Time-Pin or PIN, and other things that rely heavily on a cellular network.

How to ensure that my data is secured?

Since your SIM has been linked to your personal identifiable data and information, the act protects you from any breach of privacy. According to this law, the data will be treated as absolutely confidential. You also have control as a subscriber (via written consent) when to access your information.

However, It is only disclosed when there’s an issued subpoena or order of a court upon finding probable cause or upon written request from a law enforcement agency in relation to an ongoing investigation that a particular number is used in the commission of a crime or it was used as means to commit an unlawful act.

What are the penalties? Just curious 🤔

According to the law’s Implementing Rules and Regulation or IRR, the penalties are pretty hefty, if you may be asked.

  • If providing false or fictitious information, or using fake identities or documents to register, there will be six months to two years imprisonment, and P100,000 to P300,000 fine.
  • For selling or transfer of a registered SIM without proper notification and required registration there will be six months to six years imprisonment, and P100,000 to P300,000 fine.
  • For spoofing or misrepresentation of a registered SIM, there is imprisonment of no less than six years and a P200,000 fine.
  • For failure or refusal to register a SIM by telco, First offense: P100,000 to P300,000; Second offense: P300,000 to P500,000; Third and subsequent offenses: P500,000 to P1,000,000.
  • For the sale of stolen SIM Imprisonment: Six months to two years and a fine of P100,000 to P300,000.
  • Breach of confidentiality, a fine of P100,000 to P4,000,000.

Will these stop spammers and cybercriminals?

If properly implemented, this law prevents anyone from misusing and abusing cellular technologies to intentionally commit a crime, steal someone’s money and spoof someone’s privacy. It also stops anyone who buys SIM cards from purposely using them for a dummy/burner phone. It does not definitely stop cybercrime, but SIM registration act as a safeguarding solution against cyber criminals.

For more info, visit their FAQs page.

Written by JR Grate/Center for Integrated Communications
The article first appeared on WalasTech.com where he was a contributor at the time the article was published.

References:

NTC Memorandum Circular 001-12-2022 (lawphil.net),
Republic Act No. 11934 | Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines
SIM card registration extended for 90 days | Philippine News Agency (pna.gov.ph)