Camarines Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte is urging the government to make a full-blast SIM (subscriber identity module) registration drive after the Holy Week.
The SIM registration deadline is on April 26.
“A total of 57.19 million SIM cards have been registered, which is just 34% of an estimated 168.977 million SIMs nationwide.”
The website of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) reveals a total of 57.19 million SIM cards have been registered, which is just 34 percent of an estimated 168.977 million SIMs nationwide.
“They are probably clueless that the registration is mandatory.”
“It’s possible that many SIM card owners have not signed up yet because even if they know that the sign-up is a deterrent to crime, they are probably clueless that the registration is mandatory, or that they would no longer be able to use their unregistered SIM cards because the government would deactivate them by April 27,” Villafuerte said.
The veteran legislator called on the NTC and public telecommunications entities (PTEs) to set up more registration booths or assistance desks.
The seasoned lawmaker suggested that NTC and PTEs ask support from the local government units.
“One way to accelerate the registration process this last registration month is for local executives to help the PTEs, DICT (Department of Information and Communications Technology), NTC and other concerned sectors establish more off-site centers where people can sign up, especially in places with limited Internet or telecommunication access,” he said.
Villafuerte reminded the public that owners of deactivated SIMs would no longer be able to make and receive calls or access their SIMs’ data services and online connectivity.
A deactivated SIM will also prevent them from accessing websites or using applications that require an internet connection.
