THE House Committee on Information and Communications Technology has recently approved for plenary debate a proposed measure that would require the registration of prepaid subscriber identity module (SIM) cards.
House Bill 5231 seeks to help the law-enforcement agencies in their campaign against criminality.
The bill also establishes a system of sale and registration of SIM card for prepaid users by registering personal data in a registration form.
Under the bill, to be known as the “Subscriber Identity Module [SIM] Card Registration Act,” every direct seller shall require the end user of a SIM card to present valid identification with photo to ascertain identity.
It added that the direct seller shall also require the end user to accomplish and sign a control-numbered registration form issued by the respective Public Telecommunications Entity (PTE) of the SIM card being purchased. The registration form shall include an attestation by the end user that the person personally appearing before the direct seller and the identification documents presented are true and correct and that the person is one and the same who has accomplished and signed the registration form.
The bill provides that an end user who does not produce valid identification with photo and who fails to accomplish a registration form shall be refused sale of a SIM card by the direct seller.
“The registration of prepaid SIM cards would put a stop to the brazen theft of mobile-phone units, which have become an indispensable communication tool to everyone,” said Liberal Party (LP) Rep. Rodolfo G. Biazon of Muntinlupa City, one of the main authors of the bill.
Deputy Speaker and LP Rep. Sergio A. F. Apostol of Leyte, also the author of the measure, said the registration of SIM cards would reduce kidnapping and other petty crimes.
LP Rep. Marcelino R. Teodoro of Marikina City said one of the key provisions of the measure is authorizing the PTEs to automatically deactivate the services of unregistered existing prepaid SIM card subscriber.
The bill provides that a fine of P300,000 should be imposed for the first time if the offense is committed by a PTE, P500,000 for the second offense and for the third and subsequent offenses, a fine of P1,000,000 for every offense.
Also, the bill imposes a penalty of suspension of its operation on any direct seller who fails to comply with the provisions and a fine ranging from P5,000 to P50,000.The National Telecommunications Commission has been mandated to promulgate the implementing rules and regulations necessary to ensure the effective implementation of this Act.
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They should also push passing the bill of having one ID system in the Philippines to avoid fake IDs.