CALAMBA CITY, Laguna (PIA) – The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) assured mobile phone subscribers that their personal data are safe under the SIM Registration Law.
Lawyer Jualie Lanting of NTC Region IV-A said the individual’s data privacy will not be compromised with the use of digital registration platforms to secure personal data.
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“Kasama rin ang National Privacy Commission (NPC) dito para masiguro na sinusunod ng mga telecommunication companies (telco) ang implementasyon nito, lalo na sa pag-store ng mga data na ibinibigay ng mga subscriber,” Lanting said during the weekly Sulong Calabarzon online program of PIA IV-A.
The NTC likewise closely monitors telcos in implementing Republic Act 11934 that was signed into law by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. in October 2022. The law requires mobile phone users to register their SIM (subscriber identity module) card to help curb the proliferation of crimes such as terrorism, scams, and fake news peddling through text scams.
Lanting said the Covid-19 pandemic and the proliferation of text scams made the passage of the SIM law urgent to help law enforcement agencies protect citizens by tracking criminals and terrorists who use their mobile phones in their activities.
“Napabilis ang pagpasa ng SIM Registration Act dahil sa nitong mga nakaraang buwan ay marami tayong natatanggap na text scams. Ito ang isa sa mga layunin ng SIM Registration,” she added.
As of January 5, the NTC said some 15 million SIM cards have been registered with their respective telcos. More subscribers are expected to register before the April 26, 2023 deadline.
“Doon naman sa mga bagong biling SIM card, deactivated na ang mga ito. Kailangan lamang ito iregister bago gamitin,” Lanting clarified.
She said unregistered SIM numbers will be automatically deactivated after April 26.
Meanwhile, lost and stolen mobile phones with registered numbers should be immediately reported for deactivation so that service providers can immediately replace their registered number.
“Wala ring nakalagay sa batas sa batas na naglilimita kung ilang SIM ang pwedeng i-register ng isang indibidwal,” Lanting added.
The NTC noted a few hiccups during the initial registration period that began last December 27 such as internet traffic due to the heavy volume of registrants.
Lanting said telcos have already resolved the traffic issues in their respective registration portals. (PB)
