NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
of :ljc
‘22 SEP-8 A 9 *06
SENATE
s. No. 1297
RECEIVED
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
REQUIRING THE REGISTRATION OF SUBSCRIBER IDENTITY MODULE 
(SIM) CARDS IN MOBILE PHONES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Mobile phones have been one of the leading communication mediums for its 
efficiency and convenience.
The Philippines has the distinction of being the text-messaging capital of the 
world due to the large volume of Short Messaging System (SMS) traffic exchange in 
the country. We are also called the social media capital of the world because most of 
the social media users have an extraordinarily high usage time of about four hours 
per day. It has been estimated that the number of cellular phone subscribers in the 
country reached over twenty-three million and Is still growing at a rapid rate.1 Many 
of these mobile phone users are prepaid subscribers.
Prepaid Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards are easily accessible i.e. it can 
be bought almost everywhere. It's affordable, fairly easy to use and no documentary 
requirements are needed in order to avail of it thus the owners can likewise easily 
evade detection since prepaid SIM cards are virtually undetectable. Due to this, 
unscrupulous individuals almost always take advantage of the same in the pursuit of 
their criminal activities.
1 https://aseannow.eom/topic/1240038-why-is-philippines-the-text%C2%A0messaging-capital-of-the-world/
1


Modern-day criminals have been using mobile phones as a means to commit 
unlawful activities due to the untraceable features of owning a SIM card. Through the 
years, there have been instances of budol-budolother types of scams. Recently, 
the proliferation of spam and phishing text messages have risen into epidemic 
proportions. At the minimum it is just an unwelcome nuisance to our mobile phone 
users but for some unfortunate individuals it has resulted to stolen personal 
information and property.
It therefore becomes imperative for lawmakers to ensure that the benefits we 
derive from this technology should be used properly and not be abused to proliferate 
the evils in our society.
The proposed bill seeks to establish a system wherein users are required to 
register their SIM cards and confirm their identity not only to prevent crimes but to 
make the perpetrators liable.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
RAMO^ONG REVILLA,


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
of S!jc ■ r*Ptflr,D
*22 SEP-8 A 9:06
SENATE
RECEIVED BV
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
REQUIRING THE REGISTRATION OF SUBSCRIBER IDENTITY MODULE 
(SIM) CARDS IN MOBILE PHONES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Mandatory SIM Card
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Registration"
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Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State recognizes the vital role of
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communication and information In nation building. The introduction of modern
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telecommunications technology with the view of providing the widest information
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dissemination is greatly encouraged. However, possession of the most modern
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technology comes with tremendous responsibility. A mechanism must be put in place
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to ensure its effective use for the good of all while preventing its illegal or malicious
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use to benefit a few. Towards this end, the State shall require the registration of all
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users of prepaid subscriber identity module (SIM) cards.
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Sec. 3. Definitions. - For purposes of this Act,
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1. "SIM Card" refers to the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Card in a
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mobile phone;
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2. "Mobile Phone Company" refers to any mobile telecommunication
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service provider, including but not limited to Globe and Smart PLOT;
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3. "NTC" refers to the National Telecommunications Commission.


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4. Public Telecommunications Entity or PTE refers to any duly enfranchised 
and authorized public telecommunications entity that offers voice, short 
messaging system (SMS/text), mobile data, value-added services (VAS) 
or any other telecommunications services to the public for a fee;
5. SIM Card Register - shall mean a database of the Service Provider's 
prepaid and postpaid subscribers containing the information required 
under Section 4 of this Act;
6. Service Provider - shall mean a telecommunications entity providing 
telecommunications services to its subscribers;
7. Third Party Reseller - shall mean any entity who sells Prepaid SIM Cards, 
other than Service Providers
Sec. 4. SIM Card Registration. - Every direct seller shall require the end user of 
a SIM card to present valid identification with a photo to ascertain the latter's identity. 
Every mobile phone company shall be required to register its subscribers, both prepaid 
and postpaid, and maintain a directory thereof, indicating therein the SIM Card serial 
number, mobile phone number, name, and address of the subscriber. Any change In 
the information required in the SIM Card Registration must be registered with the 
mobile phone company within fifteen (15) days from the occurrence of such change.
Sec 5. Data Privacy and Confidentiaiity. - Personal information in SIM Card 
Registration shall be treated as private and confidential, unless otherwise specified by 
the subscriber. It shall not be inquired or looked into, except upon probable cause to 
be determined personally by the judge after examination under oath or affirmation of 
the complainant and the witnesses, if any.
Sec. 6. Saie of SIM Cards. - Every seller shall require his or her buyer of a SIM 
Card to present valid identification with a picture to ascertain the identity of the buyer. 
The seller shall further require the buyer to accomplish a registration form issued by 
the mobile phone company of the SIM Card being purchased. For this purpose, mobile 
phone companies shall issue SIM Card registration forms. The seller shall then 
promptly submit the accomplished registration form to the concerned mobile phone


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company not later than fifteen (15) days from the date of sale. Data privacy and 
confidentiality in the SIM Card registration in Section 5 shall start to apply at the point 
of sale. A buyer who does not produce valid Identification with a picture and 
accomplishes a SIM Card registration form shall, in accordance with the preceding 
paragraph, be refused the sale of a SIM Card by the seller.
Sec. 7. Integration with the Phiiippine Identification System Act. - The 
implementation of this act shall aim to be integrated with the implementation of 
Republic Act No. 11055, otherwise known as the Philippine Identification System Act.
Sec. 8. Impiementing Ruies and Reguiations. - Within ninety (90) days from 
the effectivlty of this Act, the NTC, in coordination with Department of Information 
and Communication Technology, concerned agencies and Public Telecommunications 
Entity, shall promulgate the rules and regulations and other issuances as may be 
necessary, to ensure the effective Implementation of this Act.
Sec. 9. Penaity Provision. - Any violation of the provisions of this Act shall be 
punished with a fine ranging from five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) to fifty thousand 
pesos (P50,000.00).
Sec. 10. Transitory Provision. - All existing subscribers who have no SIM Card 
registration yet are required to register their SIM Cards with their respective mobile 
phone companies within three (3) months from the effectivlty of this Act. Failure to 
register within the prescribed period shall result In the deactivation of the SIM Card. 
The deactivated SIM Card may only be reactivated after registration in accordance 
with this Act.
Sec. 11. Repeaiing Ciause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or 
other Issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly.
Sec. 12. Separabiiity Ciause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is declared


unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected thereby shall 
remain in force and effect.
Sec. 13. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following the 
completion of Its publication either In the Official Gazette or In two (2) newspapers of 
general circulation In the Philippines.
Approved,