Question & AnswerQ&A (IRR Republic Act No. 11934)
The rules and regulations are known as the "Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the SIM Registration Act."
End-users refer to any existing subscriber and/or any individual or juridical entity which purchases a SIM from the Public Telecommunications Entities (PTEs), its agents, resellers, or any entity.
End-users are required to register their SIMs within 180 days from the effectivity of the Act, report any change of information, lost or stolen SIMs, death, and request SIM activation/deactivation. They must not sell or transfer registered SIMs without complying with the registration requirements.
Acceptable valid government-issued IDs include Passport, Philippine Identification System ID, Social Security Service ID, Government Service Insurance System e-Card, Driver's License, National Bureau of Investigation clearance, Police clearance, Firearms License to Own and Possess ID, Professional Regulation Commission ID, Integrated Bar of the Philippines ID, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration ID, Bureau of Internal Revenue ID, Voter's ID, Senior Citizen's card, Unified Multi-purpose Identification Card, Persons with Disabilities card, or other valid government-issued ID with photo.
The penalty is imprisonment ranging from six (6) months to two (2) years, or a fine of not less than ₱100,000 but not more than ₱300,000, or both.
PTEs must retain relevant data for ten (10) years from the date of deactivation of the SIM.
Disclosure is allowed in compliance with laws such as the Data Privacy Act, court orders upon probable cause, Section 10 of the Act and Section 12 of the IRR, or with the written consent of the subscriber.
Their SIMs are valid temporarily for thirty (30) days and shall be automatically deactivated upon expiration. The validity may be extended upon presentation of an approved visa extension.
PTEs must establish secure online registration platforms, maintain SIM registers, verify submitted data, send registration notices, handle changes or deactivations, immediately bar lost or stolen SIMs, deactivate fraudulent SIMs, retain data for 10 years, provide user-friendly reporting mechanisms, secure data, report cyber-attacks, allow annual audits, submit annual reports, facilitate registration in remote areas, and comply with data privacy requirements.
First offense: fine of ₱100,000 to ₱300,000; Second offense: fine of ₱300,000 to ₱500,000; Third and subsequent offenses: fine of ₱500,000 to ₱1,000,000 for each offense.
Automatic deactivation is the automated process of rendering a SIM incapable of being used for outgoing and incoming calls, internet access, or sending and receiving messages after the registration period set under the Act and IRR.
Spoofing is the act of transmitting misleading or inaccurate information about the source of the phone call or text message with the intent to defraud, cause harm, or wrongfully obtain anything of value.