SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
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S E N A T E
( § l f i r t  o f  
If u
■16 
OCT 12 
P 3 3 0
Senate Bili No. 1202
Introduced by SENATOR CYNTHIA A. VILLAR
AN ACT
PROHIBITING TEXT SCAMS, MISLEADING ADVERTISEMENTS, AND 
FRAUDULENT SALES PROMOTIONS, MANDATING FOR THIS PURPOSE THE 
REGISTRATION OF ALL USERS OF SUBSCRIBER IDENTITY MODULE (SIM) 
CARDS, AND PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR THE VIOLATIONS THEREOF
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article II, Section 24 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution states that the “State 
recognizes the vital role of communication and information in nation-building”. 
Pursuant to this national policy, laws have been passed supporting the growth of the 
telecommunications industry in the Philippines, which is in turn essential to the 
country’s economic development, integrity, and security.
It can be safely said that the existence of mobile phones has largely 
contributed to the growth of the economy as the ease and speed with which people 
can connect with each other help improve the efficacy of business. The downside, 
however, is the risk in the security and safety of the mobile phone user.
It should be noted that mobiles phones require a Subscriber Identification 
Module or SIM card, which is used to connect to a wireless service provider and 
access its services. A SIM card holds all of a subscriber's personal information and 
phone settings and is the subscriber's authorization to use the network. It also holds 
the phone number, personal security key and other data necessary for the handset 
to function.
SIM cards can either be for a post-paid or prepaid account, the difference 
being that in the former, the SIM card is registered under the subscriber’s name 
including all the details necessary to identify said subscriber, while in the latter, no 
registration is necessary, and anyone can simply buy a prepaid SIM card from the 
network itself or from re-sellers and start using it.
Although prepaid cellular service has its advantages, the fact that it provides 
anonymity to the subscriber becomes appealing to those who wish to commit 
mischief and other crimes. Prepaid SIM cards are commonly used by syndicates in 
committing fraudulent money-making activities like e-raffle and random lottery, used


by “dugo-dugo gang” in committing robbery, used by individuals for harassments, 
and it is even used by unscrupulous individuals to impersonate personalities and 
solicit donations. Basically, anyone with a prepaid SIM card can do anything and not 
be caught because they cannot be traced, their identity cannot be determined, and 
they can simply throw away the SIM card after use.
In 2013, it was reported that around 1,179 text scam complaints were filed 
with the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC). In January to June 2014, 
meanwhile, the complaints have already reached 967 in number. The NTC has 
admitted that apprehending scammers is difficult considering that they can always 
buy a new prepaid SIM card even if the old one was blocked.1
Similarly, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Bangko Sentral 
ng Pilipinas (BSP) has cautioned the public against text scams sent to random 
mobile phone numbers using ordinary2 cellphone numbers that are prepaid 
accounts.
With the proliferation of text scams and in order to curb misleading 
advertisements and the fraudulent sales promotions, which is made easy through the 
use of prepaid SIM cards, the proposed measure therefore seeks the mandatory 
registration of all prepaid SIM card users. This is similar to the practices of countries 
like Singapore3 and Kenya4 on buying prepaid SIM cards.
In view foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is immediately requested.
CYNTHIA A. VILLAR
^http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/video/nation/metro-manila/07/22/14/how-text-scammers-get-your-phone-numbers
Ordinary cellphone numbers contain at least seven digits on top of the country code, area code, and network
code.
4 http://www.guidemesingapore.com/blog-post/singapore-life/getting-a-prepaid-sim-card-in-singapore 
http://www.humanipo.com/news/1836/Tough-rules-on-SIM-cards-by-December-CCK-says/


SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
o l  t h e  
.-Cl 1-1II
•16 
OCT 12 
P 3 :2 9
S E N A T E
Senate Bill No. 
\p C \2 .
H I ' . '
”,V:
Introduced by SENATOR CYNTHIA A. VILLAR
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AN ACT
PROHIBITING TEXT SCAMS, MISLEADING ADVERTISEMENTS, AND 
FRAUDULENT SALES PROMOTIONS, MANDATING FOR THIS PURPOSE THE 
REGISTRATION OF ALL USERS OF SUBSCRIBER IDENTITY MODULE (SIM) 
CARDS, AND PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR THE VIOLATIONS THEREOF
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of the Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Short Title. -  This Act shall be known as the “Prepaid SIM Card 
Registration Act of 2016”.
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. -  It is the policy of the State to protect the 
interest of the consumer, promote his general welfare, and to establish standards of 
conduct for business and industry. It is further the policy of the State to protect the 
consumer from misleading advertisements and fraudulent sales promotion practices.
To ensure the fulfillment of this goal, all users of subscriber identity module 
(SIM) cards, whether post-paid or pre-paid shall be required to be registered and 
recorded with the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).
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SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. -  As used in this Act:
(a) Subscriber Identity Module or SIM Card refers to the removable plastic into 
which an integrated circuit that securely stores the international mobile 
subscriber identity and the related key used to identify and authenticate 
subscribers on mobile telephone devices is embedded, and which can be 
transferred between different mobile devices;
(b) Prepaid SIM Card refers to a SIM card for which credit is purchased in 
advance of service use. Upon consumption of the credit or expiration of 
the term for the use of the credit, access to the requested service is 
denied:


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(c) Post-paid SIM Card refers to a SIM card for which the price for the use of 
service is billed and paid after such use and depends on the arrangement 
between the public telecommunications entity and user thereof;
(d) Public Telecommunications Entity or PTE, as defined under Republic Act 
No. 7925, otherwise known as the Public Telecommunications Policy Act 
of the Philippines, refers to any person, firm, partnership or corporation, 
government or private, engaged in the provision of telecommunications 
services to the public for compensation; and
(e) Subscriber refers to the user or owner, whether natural or juridical, of the 
prepaid SIM card.
SEC. 4. Mandatory Registration of Prepaid SIM Card Users. -  Except as 
otherwise stated in Section 6 of this Act, all persons wishing to purchase a prepaid 
SIM card shall be required to register the same under their name, showing 
competent proof of their identity. The purchased prepaid SIM card shall be for the 
account of and under the name of the purchaser, except in a representative capacity, 
in which case Section 5 herein shall apply.
Existing users of prepaid SIM cards shall likewise be required to register the 
same within one hundred eighty (180) days from the effectivity of this Act. Failure to 
register within the prescribed period shall authorize the corresponding PTE to 
automatically deactivate its services to the specific existing prepaid SIM card user.
SEC. 5. Representative Registration. -  In case the purchaser is not the end 
user of the prepaid SIM card, the purchaser shall have to present proof of identity of 
the end user for whom the prepaid SIM card is purchased, as well as a notarized 
letter of authorization, authorizing the purchaser to buy the prepaid SIM card in the 
name of the end user.
In cases where the end user of the prepaid SIM card is a minor, the parent or 
guardian of the said minor shall include in the registration form a consent letter for 
the minor’s use of the prepaid SIM card, together with the proofs of identity of the 
parent or guardian and the minor.
SEC. 6. Corporate Prepaid Accounts. -  For prepaid accounts to be purchased 
by corporations, companies, associations, organizations, and other similar entities 
for the use of its employees or members, it shall be enough, for purposes of 
registration, that the prepaid account be registered under the name of the 
corporation, company, association, or organization as it appears in its articles of 
incorporation, association, or organization registered before the Securities and 
Exchange Commission or Department of Trade and Industry.
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The corporation, company, association, organization, or other similar entity
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shall, upon registration, submit a list of its personnel who shall be assigned the
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prepaid SIM card/s to be purchased.


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Corporations, companies, associations, organizations, and other similar 
entities possessing existing corporate prepaid accounts shall likewise be required to 
register its corporate prepaid accounts under its name with the list of its personnel 
currently using the same.
SEC. 7. Role of Sellers. -  It shall be the duty of the sellers of prepaid SIM 
cards to require purchasers of prepaid SIM cards to present government issued IDs 
reflecting their respective pictures before acquiring and activating the prepaid SIM 
cards.
Sellers are further required to keep a record of the personal information of all 
their buyers and register the same with the corresponding PTE within fifteen (15) 
days from date of sale. It is incumbent upon the sellers to verify that the purchaser 
and the identification given are one and the same and shall see to it that all 
information required in the registration form is complete before selling the prepaid 
SIM card.
SEC. 8. Role of PTEs. — It shall be the duty of the PTEs to keep a record of all 
their prepaid subscribers, including those registered with them by the sellers. Within 
fifteen (15) days from sale of the prepaid SIM card or from submission of the 
accomplished registration form by the sellers, the PTEs shall submit a copy of the 
same to the NTC.
It shall likewise be the duty of the PTEs to submit to the NTC any changes in 
the ownership of the prepaid SIM card, within fifteen (15) from submission of such 
change.
Incomplete registration forms submitted by the sellers shall authorize the 
corresponding PTE to deactivate its services to the specific prepaid SIM card user, 
provided, however, that notice and sufficient time is given the prepaid subscriber to 
complete the registration form. The PTE may temporarily deactivate its services to 
the specific SIM card user to compel complete registration.
SEC. 9. Role of NTC. -  The NTC shall be the chief agency in charge of 
implementing the provisions of this Act. It shall prescribe the form and necessary 
information required to be provided by the subscriber in the registration form as well 
as any changes therein.
In the implementation of the provisions of this Act, the NTC may require the 
assistance of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the National Bureau of 
Investigation (NBI). The NTC shall likewise keep a registry of all prepaid subscribers 
as submitted by the PTEs.
A massive information campaign must be implemented by the NTC, in 
cooperation with the Philippine Information Agency, to inform the public of the need 
for mandatory registration of prepaid SIM Cards.


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SEC. 10. Changes in Prepaid SIM Account. — In case of changes in their 
personal information or ownership of the prepaid SIM card, it shall be the duty of the 
concerned subscriber to submit the change to the corresponding PTE within fifteen 
(15) days from such change.
In case of change in ownership of the prepaid SIM card, whether donated or 
resold, the former subscriber shall include therein the registration form accomplished 
by the new subscriber.
For corporate entities as described under Section 6 of this Act, changes in its 
assigned personnel using the corporate prepaid SIM card shall be shall be submitted 
by the corporate entity to the corresponding PTE within thirty (30) days from such 
change.
SEC. 11. Penal Provisions. -  Without prejudice to the filing of administrative 
cases, any person, whether juridical or natural, who violates any of the provisions of 
this Act shall, upon conviction by a court of competent jurisdiction, shall suffer the 
following as the case may be:
First Offense: 
Fine of not less than Five Thousand Pesos (Php
5.000. 00) but not exceeding Twenty Thousand Pesos 
(Php 20,000.00):
Fine of not less than Twenty Thousand Pesos (Php
20.000. 00) but not exceeding Fifty Thousand Pesos (Php
50.000. 00) or imprisonment of not less than six (6) 
months but nor exceeding one (1) year or both;
Fine of not less than Fifty Thousand Pesos (Php
50,000.00) but not exceeding One Hundred Thousand 
Pesos (Php 100,000.00) or imprisonment of not less than 
one (1) year but not exceeding two (2) years.
If the offense is committed by a corporate entity, the President and other 
executive officers shall be held liable for the above penalties.
In case the offense is committed by a PTE or seller of prepaid SIM cards, the 
PTE or seller shall be suspended from selling the same as follows:
First Offense: 
Three (3) months from finality of judgment;
Second Offense: 
Six (6) months from finality of judgment;
Third Offense; 
Three (3) years from finality of judgment.
Second Offense:
Third Offense:


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SEC. 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -  The NTC shall issue such
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orders, rules and regulations, and other issuances as may be necessary to ensure
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the effective implementation of this Act.
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SEC. 13. Separability Clause. -  If for any reason, any part of or provision of
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this Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid, such parts not affected thereby shall
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remain in full force and effect.
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SEC. 14. Repealing Clause. -  Any law, executive order, letter of instruction,
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rules and regulations, circulars, issuances or any part thereof inconsistent with any
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of the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly.
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SEC. 14. Effectivity Clause. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
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its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general
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circulation.
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Approved,