11/01/2023
๐๐๐๐: ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ง๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ญ๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ข๐จ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐ง. ๐๐, ๐ก๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ฌ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐๐จ๐ง ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐/๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฉ๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ
SIM Registration has completed its first 15 days since implementation, effectively concluding its test period on 10 January 2023. On the same day, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) held a press conference for the SIM Registration 24/7 interagency response center at the DICT Cybersecurity Bureau Building in Quezon City. Subscribers who have concerns regarding SIM Registration can dial the response center via its hotline, 1326.
In the press conference, DICT Undersecretary Anna Mae Yu Lamentillo relayed updates to the media and the public, citing the most recent statistics for SIM Registration, and presenting the plans with the public telecommunications entities (PTEs) for facilitating the registration in the countryโs geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs).
โThe process has actually improved if we look at the statistics. We already have more than 16 million SIMs registered as of January 9, and the number of complaints have significantly dropped from an average of 95 complaints during the first week, down to an average of 47 during the second week. Having this Complaint Center gives us in the DICT a clear picture of the concerns of the public so we can relay them to the PTEs and ensure that we provide end-users an efficient way to register their SIMs,โ said Undersecretary Lamentillo in the press conference.
The DICT, under the leadership of Secretary Ivan John Uy, is encouraging the public to register their SIMs as soon as they can. The Department also reminded the public to be mindful of fake websites, phishing, and other scams that may take advantage of people during the registration process.
Also present at the press conference were Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Margarita Gutierrez, National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) OIC Commissioner Ella Blanca Lopez, and Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) Division Chief Norman Ancheta.
Undersecretary Gutierrez said that local government units (LGUs) and the DILGโs attached agencies are united in ensuring that the implementation of SIM Card Registration is smooth and successful.
โThis law can better shepherd our police force and LGUs to adapt to the demands of the digital world as we fulfill the DILGโs mandate on peace and order and safeguard our people against ill-intentioned criminals in both the offline and online space. The DILG, through the leadership of Secretary Benhur Abalos, Jr., will remain a staunch supporter of this law and will closely coordinate with other agencies to develop the necessary guidelines to ensure its proper implementation,โ said Undersecretary Gutierrez.
CICC Division Chief Ancheta also presented the figures for the response center, which has received a total of 1,312 complaints. The most prominent concerns were the registration process and the website malfunctioning during the process. There were also queries about where to register, how many SIMs they can register, the deadline for registration, what to do when they entered the wrong details, as well as concerns on data privacy. Issues and complaints received by the response center regarding the PTEsโ platforms will be addressed by the respective PTEs.
For the NTCโs part, OIC Commissioner Lopez said that the Commission, with the support and help of the DICT, the CICC, the DILG, and other concerned agencies, will continue to monitor the effective implementation of this law.
โBased on the data provided by the telcos, thereโs not much of a problem now with the registration. But they are continuously updating and optimizing their systems so that there will be no more problems in the future,โ said Lopez.
For complaints and concerns related to SIM Registration, you may contact the hotline 1326. This hotline is also available for concerns with courier services. You may also reach the DICT through these numbers:
SMART: 0947 714 7105
Globe: 0966 976 5971
DITO: 0991 481 4225
LINK: https://dict.gov.ph/dict-announces-sim-registration-test-period-completion-on-jan-10-holds-presscon-for-24-7-response-center/
