What went wrong with SIM card registration? Initially touted as the silver bullet against spam and scam texts, the program was poorly executed. The lack of a robust verification system allowed fake or incomplete registrations to increase, creating a loophole for scammers to exploit. In addition to this, the government’s half-hearted cybersecurity measures result in an environment ripe for exploitation. It’s not just a failure of policy but a betrayal of the public trust.
The DICT and CICC must now act decisively to salvage the situation. First, there needs to be a real-time system for SIM card verification integrated with existing national databases like the National ID system. This is a mammoth task but a necessary one to ensure that every registered SIM card belongs to a legitimate user. At the same time, the government must clamp down on telcos that fail to implement stricter account authentication measures, including mandatory two-factor authentication for mobile services.
Second, the CICC should launch an aggressive public awareness campaign. Many Filipinos remain unaware of how sophisticated these scams have become. Educating the public on how to recognize and report phishing attempts is just as crucial as implementing technological safeguards. It’s high time these agencies used their budgets for something more meaningful than glossy press releases about shutting down a handful of scam hubs.
Third, and most importantly, the government must establish an emergency task force with adequate funding to address cybersecurity threats. This task force should collaborate with international experts to adopt best practices from countries that have effectively tackled similar problems. For example, multi-layered encryption, AI-driven monitoring systems to detect scam patterns, and partnerships with social media platforms to flag and block scam accounts in real time.
Moreover, penalties for scammers and negligent telcos must be harsher. The existing fines are laughable and do nothing to deter these malicious activities. Jail terms and financial penalties that reflect the damage done to victims must become the norm.
To the DICT and CICC: Where are the promised results? The billions allocated to “modernizing” cybersecurity are not evident in the current state of affairs. If you can’t handle this problem, perhaps it’s time to let private cybersecurity firms take the lead. Filipinos deserve better than hollow promises and inefficient governance.
It’s also worth noting that these scams are part of a broader narrative of government failure to address technological threats. With AI, blockchain, and other advanced tech making strides globally, the Philippines lags embarrassingly behind. If our leaders can’t address something as basic as text scams, how can we expect them to future-proof our nation?
President Marcos Jr.’s administration must take responsibility for these failures and prioritize real cybersecurity reforms. Enough with the PR stunts and empty claims. Filipinos deserve a safe digital environment, free from the constant fear of being scammed. Until the government steps up, our personal and financial security remains at the mercy of cybercriminals—and that is unacceptable.
