By Ashley Erika O. Jose, <\/b>Reporter<\/i><\/p>\n
TELECOMMUNICATIONS firms are challenging the National Telecommunications Commission\u2019s (NTC) suggestion to mandate personal appearances for the enrollment of subscriber identity module (SIM) cards.<\/p>\n
\u201cMandating a physical presence for SIM registration contradicts the principle of universal accessibility. Individuals from rural areas are unable and unwilling to do in-person registration due to the distance and travel difficulties,\u201d Globe Telecom, Inc. General Counsel Froilan M. Castelo stated in an email to BusinessWorld<\/i> on Thursday.<\/span><\/p>\n Smart Communications, Inc. Head of Regulatory Affairs Roy D. Ibay mentioned that the compulsory presence of mobile phone users during the registration process was a topic of discussion during the drafting of the SIM Registration Act.<\/p>\n Nevertheless, Mr. Ibay indicated that this was merely contemplated as an option, not fully integrated into the registration procedure.<\/p>\n \u201cThe hurdle is for the government to effectively verify any or all government IDs permitted by the SIM Registration law,\u201d Mr. Ibay commented in a Viber message to BusinessWorld<\/i>.<\/p>\n Earlier this week, the NTC announced it is contemplating the requirement of an individual’s presence during the registration of the SIM card.<\/p>\n This is part of its intended thorough assessment of the existing online registration method, which has \u201cdrawn criticism as a contributing factor to the increase in text scams where deceitful individuals exploit the system to sell their identities to others.\u201d<\/p>\n Republic Act No. 11934 or SIM Registration Act, enacted in 2022, mandates mobile phone users to register their SIMs under <\/span>their names or face deactivation.<\/p>\n Mr. Ibay asserted that personal appearances should only be mandated if there are inconsistencies in validation, such as unverifiable identification (ID) cards or other technical difficulties.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe condition for requiring users’ physical presence may arise if manual validation is necessary for unverifiable IDs submitted or other technical faults during the standard online SIM registration procedure by new subscribers,\u201d Mr. Ibay elaborated.<\/p>\n BusinessWorld<\/i> also requested feedback from DITO Telecommunity Corp. but had not received a reply by the deadline.<\/p>\n Globe\u2019s Mr. Castelo stressed that if the NTC is contemplating involving local government units (LGUs) to oversee the registration process, some LGUs in remote regions may not be equipped to handle the SIM registration efficiently.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe core of universal access is to ensure connectivity for all Filipinos at the most affordable price and the simplest means to obtain it. Mandating face-to-face registration would undermine this principle,\u201d Mr. Castelo remarked.<\/p>\n Samuel V. Jacoba, founding president of the National Association of Data Protection Officers, stated that while the NTC\u2019s proposition could assist in combating fraud, the practical application of the proposal may not be viable.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are millions of Filipinos using mobile phones, some with multiple SIMs. Furthermore, they may gather facial or other biometric data for authentication. How can they safeguard such sensitive personal information?\u201d he questioned in a Viber message.<\/span><\/p>\n Mr. Jacoba suggested that the NTC should devise a more comprehensive operational strategy that will maximize the agency\u2019s utilization of public resources.<\/p>\n When asked for comments, Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) <\/span>Executive Director Alexander K. Ramos conveyed that the SIM Registration Act is also rooted in the government\u2019s pursuit of digital transformation.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe entire concept of digitalization is aimed at full automation,\u201d he told reporters at a cybersecurity event. \u201cHowever, if it is the regulator issuing this statement, then compliance is necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n At present, Mr. Ramos mentioned that the National Privacy Commission is examining the correct methods of data sharing without compromising or revealing personal information.<\/p>\n \u201cCurrently, the entire authentication process is vital. It is quicker when automated, but it should not be limited to just one level. There must be several authentication processes,\u201d he pointed out. <\/span><\/p>\n