Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 23) – The deactivation of unregistered subscriber identity module (SIM) cards will no longer be carried out over one month before the July 25 registration deadline, Information and Communications Technology Secretary Ivan John Uy said on Friday.
“We may no longer need to do it. Naka-100 million na tayo eh [We are at 100 million]. So I think probably we don’t need to do it anymore,” Uy told reporters, adding that this is a good number and indicated a successful SIM registration program.
The National Telecommunications Commission said 100,048,884 card chips have been registered across Globe, Smart and DITO as of June 20.
READ: Registered SIMs now over 100 million – NTC
“Masyadong hassle pa yata. Gagawa pa tayo ng program to ano tapos we will just use it for one month. Eh yung development nun at deployment baka abutin ng three weeks or one month,” Uy said.
[Translation: It’s a hassle to continue. We’ll launch a program and then we will only use it for a month. The development and deployment might take up to three weeks or a month.]
The first deadline for SIM registration was April 26, but the government extended since only 82 million of the 168 million active SIM were registered at the time.
In April, Uy said his agency was in talks with telecommunication companies about halting select SIM services, including access to linked social media accounts, during the extension.
Meanwhile, Uy appealed to users to register their SIM since the deactivation will happen after the deadline.
“So in the remaining one month, last chance for everybody to register their SIM cards. Oras na hindi kayo makarehistro at maputol ang inyong SIM, huwag na kayong magalit. Binigyan na kayo ng lahat ng oportunidad na magparehistro. At inextend pa natin,” Uy said.
[Translation: If you don’t register in time and your SIM is deactivated, don’t get angry. You were given every opportunity to register and it was extended, too.]
