DICT Eyes Limiting Valid IDs to 3 for SIM Registration

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is eyeing a reduction in the number of valid IDs accepted for SIM (subscriber identity module) registration to prevent identity falsification, Secretary Henry Aguda said on Monday. During the House of Representatives committee on appropriations’ briefing on the DICT’s proposed 2027 budget, Aguda pointed out that the number of valid IDs accepted has become a problem in the SIM registration process. READ: SIM card registration: A step-by-step guide “We in the NTC (National Telecommunications Commission) are thinking of reducing the types of IDs. They may be reduced to three: national ID, passport, and license,” he said. Around 17 government-issued IDs can be used for SIM card registration, including the national ID, passport, driver’s license, and police and National Bureau of Investigation clearances, among others. Aguda said using the national ID in the SIM registration process could make identity falsification impossible. “So that’s what we are planning to do. Limit it to an ID that has a higher chance of having the correct identity and information,” he added. READ: Most cybercrimes still tied to SIM cards despite law – PNP Kabataan party-list Rep. Renee Co then expressed her support for advocacy groups raising privacy concerns about the SIM card registration process. She said the data used in the procedure must not be stored anywhere other than by the government. “We’d like to discuss this to ensure that’s what will happen. Hash out policies so they won’t intrude on the right to privacy,” she added. Last week, the Philippine National Police–Anti Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) raised concerns that almost all recent cybercrime cases in the country still involve SIM cards, as it called for amendments to the SIM Card Registration Act. With this, the PNP-ACG proposed that SIM cards be authenticated and activated only after successful authentication and registration. The unit also expressed its preference to use only the national ID and suggested limiting SIM card ownership to a maximum of five per person. /mcm