QUEZON CITY, (PIA) – The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) is gearing up for a busy week, laying down its plans and activities for the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) registration in 15 identified remote areas.
NTC together with their Regional Offices, Public Telecommunications Entities (PTEs), and other relevant government agencies will ensure the proper and safe conduct of SIM registration in areas with limited telecommunication or internet access.
In a press briefing on Wednesday, NTC Officer-in-Charge Ella Blanca Lopez enumerated the parameters used in the selection of remote areas:
· The number of areas with telecommunications and internet access infrastructure
· The number of geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs)
· The area’s population
Aiming to maximize subscribers’ participation in SIM registration process, NTC with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) established Free Wi-Fi sites to guarantee the success of the assisted registration.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) will be setting up a one-stop-shop so the subscribers can secure their NBI clearances, which they can use in registering their SIM to solve the problem of lack of valid government-issued ID.
NTC also called on the Local Government Units (LGUs) to exert their efforts in disseminating information about the importance of SIM registration to their constituents.
NTC reassured subscribers that there is nothing to fear as all the data and information sent to the service providers are safe and secure in accordance with RA No. 10173, otherwise known as the Data Privacy Act of 2012.
DITC and NTC continuously remind the public to register only through the official links of PTEs:
· DITO – https://digital.dito.ph/pto/download/app
· GLOBE – new.globe.com.ph/simreg
· SMART – smart.com.ph/simreg or simreg.smart.com.ph
For complaints and concerns related to SIM registration, the public may contact NTC’s 24/7 consumer hotline 1682 or DITC’s Complaint Center Hotline 1326. (JAFD/PIA-PMD)
