DITO Telecommunity Corp. and Smart Communications Inc on Thursday asked the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) for a 120-day SIM card registration extension from the original April 26 deadline to give way to all subscribers who continue to experience registration constraints.
“Considering that more than 50 percent of nationwide subscribers of all telcos have yet to register, disallowing the extension may result in disenfranchisement of subscribers that may prove detrimental to the current government initiative,” DITO said.
“At present, 30-percent of the more than 15 million DITO subscribers have successfully registered, but more important to note is that most top tier inquiries to DITO relate to issues on SIM card registration, with a good number of subscribers lacking the requisite identification to successfully register,” it added.
This legitimate concern, DITO said, can be addressed by extending the deadline of registration and give sufficient time for subscribers to secure acceptable IDs.
In a formal request letter filed by lawyer Roy Ibay of Smart’s regulatory affairs department at the DICT, Smart said extending the deadline would give subscribers more time to secure valid IDs or proofs of identity required under the Republic Act No. 11934 or the SIM Registration Act.
“With the mandatory SIM registration now in place, lack of IDs remain a challenge to those availing mobile communication services. These individuals without valid IDs are at a higher risk of digital, social and financial exclusion, and marginalization as mobile communications may be their only means of accessing online information, financial services, and other social benefits,” it said.
“Pormal na po naming isinumite ang kasulatang humihiling ng 120-day extension para po sa SIM registration process, from after April 26. Extending the deadline will give our remaining 50 percent subscriber base ample time to register. Sa kasalukuyan, 121 days lang ang inilaang panahon para makapag-register ang lahat ng 160 million subscribers sa buong bansa,” said Cathy Yang, first vice president and head of group corporate communications at PLDT and Smart.
“Comparatively, in other countries, tulad ng Indonesia at India, public telco entities were given 1 to 2 years of a registration window. Makatutulong din sa ating subscribers ang extension na ito to secure valid IDs or proofs needed to register their SIMs. Gusto po nating iwasang ma-alienate or ma-left behind ang remaining 50 percent na hindi pa nakakapag-register. So sumusuporta po kami sa pag-extend ng deadline by another 120 days from April 26,” Yang added.
