NTC sets the six-month-SIM card national registration December 27, 2022

Nelson Cañete, director of the NTC XI suggested to have their sim cards registered January next year to avoid delays.

He claimed the registration on December 27 will be the first day of the six-month registration of sim cards.

“After the 180 days of sim card registration, the NTC might extend the recording of sim cards for 120 days as the need calls for it,” Cañete said.

He said that all sim cards sold in the market will be deactivated by December 27, thus the need for registration for activation.

Cañete based on the Republic Act No. 11934 or the Sim Card Registration Act which was signed into law by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on October 10, 2022, the law aims to provide accountability for those using SIM cards and assist law enforcement in tracking perpetrators of crimes committed through phones.

“This law is seen as one way to boost government initiatives against scams perpetrated through text and online messages, which have become more prevalent in recent years,” he said.

Cañete allayed fear that the SIM card registration might by used by law enforcement for surveillance unless the SIM card is used for committing crimes like scam and extortion activities.

He stressed the only crime being prevented here is spoofing which can be described as sending statements that are untrue and has no legal basis.

Cañete said the NTC will issue through the internet a SIM card registration portal while areas which have no internet will be handled by the Telcos and the NTC by going to these areas for SIM card registration. (PIA XI-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)