NextGen Day

On Monday, lawmakers praised President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for enacting the subscriber identity module (SIM) Card Registration Act, describing it as a triumph over the pervasive text scams.

“The enactment of the SIM (Card) Registration Act is a significant accomplishment for this government. According to a statement from Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, it is a win over SMS fraudsters who continue to take advantage of our fellow Filipinos.

Villanueva thanked the president for enacting the new law, which was the first to come out of the 19th Congress and the Marcos presidency. He also thanked House of Representatives members and his colleagues for swiftly passing the resolution.

As the author and co-sponsor, we appreciate that we were able to pass this thanks to political will and a shared desire to help our compatriots, “added Villanueva.

He claimed that the new law is evidence of the government’s executive and legislative branches’ dedication to enacting significant legislation despite having opposing political ideologies.

The bill’s proponent in the Senate, Senator Grace Poe, claimed that the new law is a first step in combating text fraudsters while ensuring the fullest respect for fundamental human rights.

The right of consumers to privacy has been given adequate protections under the legislation, according to Poe, to guarantee safe and secure mobile use throughout the nation.

She stated that any data collected during SIM registration would be treated in the strictest of confidence, barring any legal requirements or court orders requiring the disclosure of personal data in case of a valid legal claim.

Some senators alleged that text scams requesting donations or money utilized their names as the subject line.

One of them, Senator Christopher Lawrence Go, stated that once this legislation became law, text scams should end.

“So, the SIM owners will be able to dine out again soon. It’s important to distinguish who is thus being addressed. As a result, SIM owners should now be registered. Gamitin man nila sa kalokohan o anumang kriminalidad. The users are now identifiable. If they use it unlawfully or for any other criminal activity, they can be tracked down and detained, “Go stated in a conversation.

Senator Jinggoy Estrada stressed the law’s relevance in light of the Philippines’ quick adoption of digital technology due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

Not only in the ways Filipinos interact, work, engage in e-commerce, access information, etc., but legislation must also be more in sync with the times and the demands of society, according to Estrada.

It may not be a perfect solution, but in my opinion, it will significantly blow criminals who use pre-paid SIM cards to maintain their anonymity. He said, “It may not be a perfect solution, but I feel that this will be a large blow to the criminals who hide in obscurity by employing”

The President and his fellow senators praised Senator JV Ejercito for the SIM Card Registration Act’s passage into law.

Ejercito remarked, “We guarantee the public that we will rigorously monitor the execution of this Act.

According to Senator Ramon Revilla Jr., the SIM Card Registration Act’s enactment into law has been “slow in coming.”

According to Revilla, the use of anonymity made possible by unregistered SIM cards in those days by criminal activity is finally being eliminated.

The days of “nefarious digital activity” are over.

After the law was signed, Valenzuela City 1st District Rep. Rex Gatchalian stated in the House of Representatives that “nefarious and fraudulent digital operations” facilitated by SIM are no longer possible.

“We appreciate President Marcos’ prompt signing of this important bill. The House Committee on Local Government’s chair stated that with the law in place, the required instrument is now available to completely remove illegal SIM-related activities like text scams, phishing, and data breaches that have in the past injured many Filipinos.

Gatchalian, who was present during the signing ceremony, is one of the primary writers of the laws that the House of Representatives combined into the SIM Registration Act. He filed House Bill 794 as soon as he took office on July 1.

The congressman had additional cause to celebrate because Senator Sherwin Gatchalian worked to pass the measure. At the same time, he was still a member of the House of Representatives in the 16th Congress, in addition to seeing it become law during his term.

“We are pleased that a law has been put into place that will create the registration system to safeguard digital transactions, decrease fraud, and combat acts of criminal syndicates using the SIM,” Gatchalian added.

The SIM Registration Act of 2022 was signed by Marcos, who was also hailed for his “quick and decisive action” by House Majority Leader Manuel Jose “Mannix” Dalipe.

This law would undoubtedly give Filipinos greater protection from scammers, unwanted phone calls, and other illegal actions, including terrorism. He added that this law would assist the government in ensuring the proper use of mobile technology.

The passage of RA 11934, or the SIM Card Registration Act, “serves as a key event in our history paving the road to more legislations fitting today’s technical advancements and the easier access to information,” according to ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Jocelyn Tulfo.

“As one of its leading advocates, I fully believe that the SIM Card Registration Act will increase Filipinos’ comfort in daily communications and will reduce the sharply rising number of illicit acts utilizing SIM cards,” she stated.

Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte of Camarines Sur’s 2nd Dist. said: “All mobile phone subscribers will now be better protected against the profusion of phone-based scams, especially now that digital con artists have managed to hack more personal information from their victims, including the actual names of these cellphone users they intend to con.”

The SIM Registration Act aims to control the purchase and distribution of SIM cards, encourage end-user responsibility, stop the spread of data breaches and mobile phone fraud, and help law enforcement authorities solve crimes involving mobile phone devices.

The development of a system for all users to register SIM cards by electronically submitting the necessary information through a platform or website supplied by Public Telecommunication Entities is one of the law’s main provisions (PTEs).

All SIMs sold must be in a deactivated condition to control SIM registration and usage. It won’t be turned on till the end user has finished the registration process.

The registration must include the end user’s full name, birth date, gender, and address as they appear on a valid government-issued identification card with a photo, such as a passport, national ID, GSIS e-Card, digital SSS ID, driver’s license, voter’s ID, senior citizen’s card, etc.

It mandates that end users notify PTEs through its facility immediately of any changes to the information provided at registration, including requests for deactivation.

A sworn complaint that a particular mobile number was or is being used in the commission of a crime or that it was used as a means to commit a malicious, fraudulent, or unlawful act is the basis for an investigation under the provisions of confidentiality and non-disclosure of information contained in RA 11934. These provisions prohibit disclosure of any subscriber information unless upon subpoena by a competent authority as a result of that investigation.

At the time of activation, the confidentiality clause in the SIM card registration shall go into force.

Additionally, it requires that all current SIM customers register. Failure to comply within the Act’s allotted time frame entitles PTEs to cancel their services for that specific SIM automatically.

Vice President Sara Duterte, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Senate President Migz Zubiri, House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Senator Grace Poe with other senators, and Rep. Sandro Marcos with other congressmen were present as the SIM Registration Act was signed into law at Malacanang Palace.

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