With a little over two months left before the deadline for the mandatory registration of the subscriber identification module (SIM) cards, the Department of Information and Communications Technology said that they do not any possible extension, adding that they are expecting the lull.

But the DICT said that instead of thinking about extending the deadline on April 26, 2023, they are working on having the subscriber register on time.

“We are almost halfway into the implementation of the SIM registration, and we have observed a slowdown in the number of registrants. Although we anticipated this lull, we are compelled to do more,” DICT Undersecretary Anna Mae Lamentillo said.

She said that they are planning to boost their efforts in encouraging more users to register their SIM cards, after the slowdown that has been observed halfway into the implementation of the prescribed registration period.

She said that this can be done by boosting their information and education campaigns.

Under the SIM Card Registration Act, all public telecommunication entities (PTEs) are mandated to establish their respective registration platforms to onboard users who present valid identification cards.

SIM card owners who fail to register before the deadline face the risk of having them deactivated.

This is according to the implementing rules and regulations of the SIM Card Registration Act that was effective December 27, after being signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. last October.

As of February 12, 2023, DICT said that a total of 32,062,265 SIM cards were registered with their respective PTEs as of 11:59 p.m. on February 12, equivalent to 18.97% of the 168.977 million SIMs across the country.

CURRENTPH NEWS SERVICE