EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
]
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
]
First Regular Session 
]
SENATE
S. No^ 
176
of tl)" c .'r r p t.ir p
*19 JUL-2 P1:13
RECEl\r£D 3Y.
Introduced by SEN. SHERWIN T. GATCHALIAN
AN ACT
REQUIRING THE REGISTRATION OF ALL USERS OF PRE-PAID 
SUBSCRIBER IDENTITY MODULE (S IM ) CARDS
EXPLANATORY NOTE
As a country that is hailed as the texting capital of the world, we should now 
be familiar with the Subscriber Identity Module or more commonly called SIM cards. 
The use of mobile phones with these SIM cards has greatly altered the way of life of 
every Filipino to an unbelievable degree. Technology has paved the way for an easier 
and faster medium of communication, a handy tool for information accessibility, and 
has mobilized broader citizen engagement for social and civic affairs. Indeed, we have 
come to acknowledge the great benefit this technology has given us.
As innovations bring countless advantages, we usually become unconcerned 
with its inimical effects. Thus, markets for the supply of SIM cards continue to flood 
at an unabated rate. We change SIM cards as fast as we change our soiled shirts. 
Alarmingly, this seeming boundless stream of supply has become a magnet for 
nefarious and illegal activities. Nowadays, we hear countless victims of text scams 
and ransom demands thru untraceable mobile numbers. In fact, the most alarming 
of ali are in instances where mobile phones become triggering devices for bomb


explosions that kill hapless civilians in our midst.
It is thus wise that we find it imperative to regulate the sale and distribution of 
these SIM cards by establishing a registry or database of validated information of its 
authorized owner. We follow the lead taken by Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and 
Brunei and other countries that have put this into law and succeeded in its effort of 
regulation.
In view of curbing unlawful activities, we earnestly seek passage of this
legislation and its immediate approval is highly recommended.
T. GATCHALIAN


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
]
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
]
First Regular Session 
]
SENATE
s. B. N o .___176
'A-WJ3 
S 'U ia-.f
of tl)f &  rrft.itp
‘19 JUL-2 PI :13
RECEI\fi-D BV.
TT
Introduced by SEN. SHERWIN T. GATCHALIAN
AN ACT
REQUIRING THE REGISTRATION OF ALL USERS OF PRE-PAID 
SUBSCRIBER IDENTITY MODULE (S IM ) CARDS
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House o f Representatives o f the Philippines 
in Congress assembled:
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SEC 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as th e "Subscriber Identity Module 
(SIM) Card Registration Act'.
SEC. 2. Declaration o f Policy. - The State recognizes the vital role of information 
and 
communications technology in nation building.
The introduction of modern telecommunications technology with the view of 
providing the widest information dissemination is greatly encouraged. The possession 
of the most modern 
technology carries with it tremendous responsibility. Thus, 
mechanism for its effective use for the good of all and not for an illegal or malicious 
purpose to benefit a few must be installed.
Towards this end, the State shall require the registration of all users of pre­
paid subscriber identity module (SIM) cards.
SEC. 3. Definition o f Terms. -  As used in this Act:
a. Direct seller refers to a person or entity, whether natural or juridical, who 
directly dispenses or sells a SIM card to an end user;


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b. End user refers to any individual/subscriber who directly purchases a SIM 
card from a direct seller for personal use;
c. Postpaid mobile phone refers to a mobile phone the service of which is 
provided by a prior arrangement with a Public Telecommunications Entity. 
The user in this situation is billed after the fact, according to their use of 
mobile services at the end of the monthly billing cycle;
d. Prepaid mobile phone refers to a mobile phone for which credit is purchased 
in advance of service use. The purchased credit is used to pay for mobile 
phone services at the point the service is accessed or consumed. If there is 
no available credit then access to the requested service is denied;
e. 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;
f. SIM card refers to the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM), which is an 
integrated circuit that securely stores the international mobile subscriber 
identity and the related key used to identify and authenticate subscribers 
on mobile telephony devices, such as mobile phones and computers. A SIM 
card is a removable plastic card into which a SIM circuit is embedded, and 
can be transferred between different mobile devices;
g. SIM card registration refers to the process of recording and verifying mobile 
phone number and personal information of a subscriber, by a PTE or other 
direct seller, including the subscriber's photograph, name, date of birth, 
gender and address.
SEC. 4. Sale and Registration o f SIM Cards. - 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 further require the end user to accomplish and 
sign a control-numbered registration form issued by the respective PTE 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.


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Except in cases where the PTE is the direct seller, the accomplished registration 
form must be submitted to the concerned PTE within fifteen (15) days from the date 
of sale. The confidentiality clause in the SIM card registration under Section 9 hereof 
shall start to apply at the point of sale.
An end user who does not produce valid identification with photo and fails to 
accomplish a registration form in accordance with the preceding paragraph shall be 
refused the sale of a SIM card by the direct seller. The direct seller shall only issue the 
SIM card to the end user after compliance with the requirements mentioned above 
and in the succeeding sections.
SEC. 5. Representative Registration o f SIM Cards. - A person who wants to 
purchase a SIM card but cannot personally register with the direct seller may, for valid 
reason, authorize another to register in that person's behalf, subject to the following 
conditions: (1) the representative is authorized through a duly notarized Special Power 
of Attorney; and (2) the principal and the representative should present an original 
and a true and clear copy of any of the valid identification cards with photo listed in 
Section 6 (a) hereof.
In case the person intending to purchase a SIM card is a minor, the parents or 
guardian shall be required to give their express consent in writing, and submit the 
same with the registration form and valid identification cards with photo of both the 
minor and the parents or guardian.
The direct seller may deny the request for representative registration after an 
assessment that the reason given therefore is not valid or that the identification cards 
or their true copies are not authentic or sufficient.
SEC. 6. Coverage o f Registration. - All direct sellers are hereby mandated to 
register pertinent data in a registration form devised for the purpose, to include the 
following information and requirements:
a) 
Full name and complete address of the end user appearing in a valid 
government-issued identification document with photo. In view thereof, SIM 
card end users shall be required to present the original and submit a true 
and 
faithful 
reproduction or 
photocopy of any of the following 
government identification documents with photo:
1. 
Driver's License


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2. 
Social 
Security 
Service/Government 
Service 
Insurance 
System 
(SSS/GSIS) Card
3. 
Passport
4. 
Senior Citizen's Card
5. 
Person with Disabilities Card
6. 
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Clearance
7. 
Police Clearance
8. 
Firearms License
9. 
Voter's Identification Card
10. Taxpayer's Identification Number (TIN)
11. Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Identification Card
12. Government Office Identification Card
13. School Identification Card (in case of a minor)
14. Other Government-issued Identification Cards
The direct seller may make further inquiries or require the submission of 
additional identification if necessary, and withhold the sale of the SIM card 
pending compliance with the additional requirements, 
b) 
Assigned cell phone number of SIM card(s) and serial number/s.
SEC. 7. 
Submission o f Registration Form. - The registration form required 
under Section 6 of this Act shall be accomplished in triplicate, and shall be forwarded 
by the direct seller for to the concerned PTE. The concerned PTE shall submit a copy 
of the duly accomplished registration form to the National Telecommunications 
Commission (NTC) within fifteen (15) days from the date of sale or receipt of such 
form from their respective direct sellers. The required registration form and the copies 
thereof shall be certified by either, the President, General Manager, Treasurer, 
Secretary or any other duly appointed officer of the PTE or direct seller, as the case 
may be.
SEC. 8. Submission o f Verified List o f Deaiers or Agents. -  The PTEs shall submit 
to the NTC, within thirty (30) days from the date of effectivity of this Act, a verified 
list of their current authorized dealers or agents nationwide. Thereafter, the PTEs 
shall submit to the NTC, every quarter of each year an updated list of the same.


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SEC. 9. Confidentiality Clause. -  Any information in SIM card registration shall 
be treated as absolutely confidential, unless upon written consent of the subscriber: 
Provided, That the waiver of absolute confidentiality shall not be made as a condition 
for the approval of subscription agreements with the PTEs.
SEC. 10. Disclosure o f Information. -  Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 
9 of this Act, the PTEs shall be required to provide information contained in the SIM 
card registration only upon order of a competent court upon finding of probable cause 
that a particular number is used in the commission of a crime or that it was utilized as 
a means to commit an unlawful act.
SEC. 11. SIM Card Register. - All PTEs are required to submit an updated SIM 
Card Register of their subscribers to the NTC every six (6) months of both postpaid 
and prepaid mobile phone users, and maintain a record containing information 
required under Section 6 of this Act.
In case of loss or any change in the information after the acquisition of the SIM 
card, the 
subscriber must notify the PTEs within thirty (30) days from such loss or 
change. The concerned PTE in return must notify the NTC of such loss or change in 
the information within fifteen (15) days from receipt of notification from the 
subscriber.
All PTEs are required to keep the data of their subscribers and the NTC shall 
see to it that this data is being kept with utmost confidentiality as provided for under 
Section 9 of this Act and in accordance with existing laws.
SEC. 12. Registration o f Existing Prepaid Mobile Phone Subscribers. -  All 
existing mobile phone subscribers with prepaid SIM cards are required to register with 
their respective PTE within one hundred eighty (180) days from effectivity of this Act. 
Such deadline may be extended by the NTC but shall not be longer than one hundred 
twenty (120) days upon valid written request.
Failure to register within the prescribed period shall authorize the PTE to 
automatically deactivate its services to the specific existing prepaid SIM card 
subscriber.
SEC. 13. Penalties. The following penalties shall be imposed for violation of 
any provision of this Act:


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a) If the offense is committed by a PTE, the President and other executive 
officers shall be held liable and the following penalties shall be imposed:
(1) First offense: A fine of Three hundred thousand pesos (P300,000.00);
(2) Second offense: A fine of Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00); 
and
(3) 
Third and subsequent offenses, a fine of One million pesos 
(P1,000,000.00) for every offense.
b) A penalty of suspension of its operation and a fine ranging from five 
thousand pesos (P5,000.00) to fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) shall be imposed on 
any direct seller who fails to comply with the provisions of this Act.
SEC. 14. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). -  Within ninety (90) days 
from the effectivity of this Act, the NTC, in coordination with concerned agencies, shall 
promulgate the rules and regulations and other issuances as may be necessary, to 
ensure the effective implementation of this Act.
SEC. 15. 
Separability Clause. -  Should any part of this Act be declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, other provisions hereof that are not affected thereby shall 
continue to be in full force and effect.
SEC. 16. Repealing Clause. -  All laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations, 
rules and regulations, and issuances, or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
SEC. 17. 
Effectivity. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
complete publication in the Official Gazette ox in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,