The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) of the Philippines stated that it is conducting a comprehensive review of the "Republic Act No. 11934" (SIM Card Registration Act), planning to implement stricter measures to curb SIM card fraud and the increasingly rampant problem of SMS scams.
One of the core proposals of this review is to introduce an on-site verification process for SIM card registration, similar to the procedures for applying for a Philippine driving license or obtaining a criminal record certificate from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). This adjustment aims to plug the loopholes in the current online registration system and prevent the illegal sale of identity information.
The National Telecommunications Commission pointed out that although the current law stipulates that violators may face imprisonment of two to six years and a fine of up to 300,000 pesos, criminals still exploit system vulnerabilities to engage in SIM card scam activities.
To further address the issue, the National Telecommunications Commission issued Memorandum Order No. 010-09-2023, requiring telecommunications companies to optimize the SIM card registration system, strengthen identity verification, and enhance user data management. Meanwhile, Public Telecommunication Entities (PTEs) have been instructed to disable clickable links in peer-to-peer SMS to reduce the spread of scam messages.
In 2024, the National Telecommunications Commission has submitted amendments to the SIM Card Registration Act to the House of Representatives and the Senate, proposing to grant the NTC the authority to regulate the number of SIM cards held and possibly limit the types of valid government-issued IDs accepted. Additionally, a proposal has been made to establish an identity verification platform for telecommunications companies to access, to enhance registration security.
The National Telecommunications Commission stated that in 2024, Philippine telecommunications companies have made significant progress in preventing SMS scams and SIM card fraud. Data shows that this year, 3.339 billion scam SMS messages have been successfully blocked, and 3.1168 million SIM cards have been deactivated, effectively curbing related criminal activities.
As the reform of the SIM card registration system progresses, the Philippine government hopes to further strengthen communication security, reduce scam crimes, and increase public trust in SIM card registration.
