ALL prepaid subscribers need to register their subscriber identity module (SIM) card should the proposed measure, which passed on second reading, becomes a law.
This, after members of the House Committee on Information and Communications Technology, led by Chairman and Rizal Rep. Joel Roy Duavit, unanimously approved House Bill 5231, otherwise known as SIM Card Registration Act of 2015, a consolidation of nine bills.
Under the proposed measure, all direct sellers are mandated to register data in a registration-form device for the purpose to include full name and address of the end users.
Authors of the measure are Reps. Marlyn Primicias-Agabas of Pangasinan; Magnolia Rose Antonino-Nadres of Nueva Ecija; Sergio Apostol of Leyte; Rodolfo Biazon of Muntinlupa City; Winston Castelo of Quezon City; Joel Roy Duavit of Rizal; Sherwin Gatchalian of Valenzuela City; Maximo Rodriguez Jr. of Abante Mindanao party-list; Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro City; and Marcelino Teodoro of Marikina City.
Under the bill, every direct seller shall require the end user of a SIM card to present valid identification with photo to ascertain the latter’s identity.
The direct seller shall also require the end user to accomplish and sign a control-numbered registration form issued by the respective public telecommunications entity of the SIM card being purchased.
The registration form shall include an attestation by the end user that the person personally appearing before the direct seller and the identification documents presented are true and correct and that the person is one and the same who has accomplished and signed the registration form.
A fine of P300,000 would be imposed if the offense is committed by a PTE for the first time, P500,000 for the second offense and for the third and subsequent offenses, a fine of P1,000,000 each.
The bill also imposes a penalty of suspension of its operation on any direct seller who fails to comply with the provisions of the measure and a fine ranging from Php5,000 to Php50,000.
The House of Representatives is targeting to pass the bill on third and final reading before they adjourn sine die on June 11.