Poe: SIM registration law to take effect on December 27

The SIM Registration Act is set to take effect on December 27, Senator Grace Poe said.

File photo: SIM card

SIM registration law ready for implementation

According to a report by ABS-CBN News, Poe made the statement during a hearing on the Department of Information and Communications Technology’s 2023 proposed budget.

A public hearing is also scheduled on December 5, while the department is expected to release the measure’s implementing rules and regulations on December 12.

The National Telecommunications Commission, in coordination with DICT, the National Privacy Commission, as well as telcos and consumer groups, worked together to complete the IRR 60 days after the law was passed last month.

December 12 is the issuance of the IRR. So it will be effective definitely on December 27, Poe said.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. signed the SIM Registration Act on October 10, which was previously vetoed by former President Rodrigo Duterte.

The law seeks to end crimes using the platform including text and online scams by regulating the sale and the use of SIMs by mandating registration to end-users.

While purchasing a new SIM card would require certain requirements, existing users will be given 180 days from the time the law takes effect to register their phone numbers with their respective service providers.

The telcos are also waiting for the IRR so it will be clearer to them how to police these texts, Poe said.

Related: What you need to know about the SIM Card Registration Act

Even prior to the signing of the law, telcos have started preparing to implement SIM registration in their own systems.

Companies have been also making efforts to go after text scams, which is one of the problems the SIM Registration Act wants to address.

Do you think this law will be effective? Let us know your thoughts.

Source: ABS-CBN News