THE House of Representatives today approved on third and final reading the proposed bill pushing for the mandatory registration of Subscriber Identity Modules or SIM cards.
Voting 181-yes, 6-no and 0-abstain, the Lower House approved House Bill 5793 or the “SIM Card Registration Act.”
The proposed bill seeks to avoid or control any crime against users of mobile phones with postpaid or prepaid SIM cards.
This is also another way to help law enforcement agencies to track down criminals like those involved in kidnapping, terrorism and other illegal activities.
The bill also seeks to make SIM card owners be responsible and “accountable.”
To register a SIM card, a user has to present a valid ID with picture, provide important details like name, birth date and address, and sign a control-numbered registration form from the Public Telecommunications Entity or PTE.
Even foreigners will be required to register their SIM cards.
However, some lawmakers are against the proposed bill, especially since this will affect the “privacy” of SIM card users, or it can be used as part of “surveillance” even if an individual or a group is not involved in criminal activities.