PLDT, Smart back SIM card registration

MANILA, Philippines — Telco giant PLDT Inc. and its wireless arm Smart Communications Inc. are hoping that the registration of SIM cards in the country will still push through after the proposed law mandating it was vetoed by President Duterte.

“For us, I think it’s important that the SIM cards are registered, because it makes it easier for e-commerce and digital payments to thrive because then we know who you are,” PLDT chairman Manuel Pangilinan said.

“I know there will be issues related to privacy and so forth and so on, but not everything is perfect, right? Technology is not unblemished blessing. There will be risks. There will always be risks attendant to new things,” he said.

The SIM Card Registration Act requires public telecommunication entities to register SIM cards as a prerequisite to their sale and activation.

Existing and active subscribers must register their SIMs within 180 days from the law’s effectivity, with a possible extension of 120 days, otherwise their SIM card numbers will be deactivated.

All social media networks must also require the real name and phone number of users upon creation of an account.

“We still are hoping that we will find a way to get the SIM cards registered. That’s important not only for our business, but also for Filipinos in general. There will be compelling benefits,” Pangilinan said.

With the President’s recent veto of the measure and reports of the Senate president’s announcement of his plan to use Congress’ power to override the veto, Smart said it would bring to the table its expertise and knowledge on global best practices in working with government to ensure consumer protection through measures like the SIM card registration bill.

“More than supporting the legislative process, we at Smart are also willing to share our own experiences, as well as our knowledge on the best global practices, to contribute to the success of the SIM card registration bill, if and when it is passed into law. We also welcome any opportunity to support the government in developing the bill’s implementing rules and regulations,” PLDT and Smart president and CEO Alfredo Panlilio said.

PLDT chief legal counsel Marilyn Aquino said prior to the veto of the proposed law, the plan was for the company to work with regulators in order to share information on what has happened as well as what is happening in other countries to avoid the same mistakes.

“Before the veto, we were planning to work with regulators, and we were looking for best practices abroad, including rules and regulations that were adopted and how they were applied, including challenges encountered and mistakes that can be avoided. That was the plan before the veto happened, and we will continue to do that,” Aquino said.

PLDT and Smart have been active in collaborating with government and regulators for consumer protection.

Through its cybersecurity operations group, PLDT has invested billions to beef up its cybersecurity defenses, not only to protect its own infrastructure but mostly to help protect customers from cyberthreats and phishing and scamming activities.

PLDT and Smart also regularly and actively campaign to inform and educate customers and help them identify red flags that indicate scams and fraud.

“Smart has long been in the forefront of consumer online protection and has been actively pushing programs toward this pursuit. This includes initiatives that keep our customers safe from scams and fraud, activities that uphold the highest standards of data privacy, and programs that promote safe online spaces for all, especially for children,” Panlilio said.