MANILA – The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is encouraging telecommunications companies (telcos) to boost subscriber identity module (SIM) registrations by opening registration booths in festivals across the country.
In a press conference at the Globe Valero Telepark in Makati City, DICT Undersecretary Anna Mae Lamentillo said public-drawing festivals will help the SIM registration information drive, especially after a recent slowdown in the number of registrants.
“Although we anticipated this lull, we are compelled to do more. We must use this as an opportunity to engage more end-users to participate. It is vital that we reinforce our strategies primarily through effective information and education campaigns,” Lamentillo said.
She noted how Globe had themed booths during the Dinagyang Festival in Iloilo City that assisted and educated subscribers on SIM registration.
“We are glad that Globe and the other telcos have been using these events as platforms to promote public awareness. It is important that we continue these strategies, alongside other campaigns,” she said.
The information campaigns, she said, must focus on three key points -- SIM registration is mandatory or else their SIM card will be disabled after the deadline on April 26, it is a protection against fraud and scams, and public participation is necessary to ensure success.
The DICT and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) are also working with the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Department of Justice and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) to boost SIM registrations at the grassroots level.
“The PSA is coordinating with NTC for the simultaneous capturing of biometrics for the National ID while registering SIM cards, especially in remote areas,” she said.
As of Sunday, 34,518,516 SIM cards have so far been registered nationwide, or 20.43 percent of 168,977,773 -- the total number of mobile subscribers in the country as of September 2022. (PNA)
