ABS-CBN News cites a member of the Philippines’ Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) as saying it is ‘deliberating’ on a possible extension of the SIM card registration deadline after confirming that only 24.54% of the more than 168.98 million mobile SIMs nationwide had been registered by 7 March. With the 26 April deadline looming, DICT Undersecretary Anna Mae Yu Lamentillo noted that it ‘has the prerogative to extend the SIM Registration process for another 120 days,’ adding ‘we are still deliberating on the matter. Now we’re focused on increasing the number of registrants before the 26 April deadline.’
In the latest progress report, DICT said PLDT’s Smart Communications had registered around 21.12 million SIMs, or 31% of its subscription base, Globe Telecom had registered 17.2 million (19.6%) and DITO Telecommunity reported around 3.15 million SIMs registered (24%).