RA 11934: Beneficial or Not?

Republic Act 11934 “Subscriber Identity Module” also known as Sim Card Registration
Act was signed last December 27, 2022 under Marcos Administration.
Implementation of mandatory sim card registration aims to combat crime and terrorism.
However, poses numerous risks to data protection as well as invading personal privacy.
Marcos Administration primary goal in implementing the RA 11934 was to at least
prevent and address crime and terrorism without considering that those who owns
cellular phones that are not registered may leads to be cut off from basic
communication services, access to internet and even social services.
This law obviously failed to at least include alternatives for those individuals whom do
not have proof of identity.
Additionally, the said law enforcing crime and terrorism prevention just piles up to
negative results of the system implementation.
Yes, the Sim Registration itself is free however requirements like, added to the burden
for the people since those aforementioned requirements is not free.
Remembering the time when they have announced that every smartphone user has to
register their smartphone to the system, created chaos in which leads to system
shutdown considering the number of people occupying the system urging to be
registered that are afraid to be disconnected from communication services.
That is a proof that the Administration Implementation of RA 11934 has an insufficient,
unprepared and was ineffective in terms of execution catering the number of
smartphone owners.
The duty of a State to maintain national security or public safety should always be
harmonized with its duty to preserve the people’s right to privacy. The greatest effort
must be made whenever possible. It should attempt to balance both interests. If a
comprehensive and meticulous analysis reveals that a compromise is impossible, a
tough yet important decision will have to be made about whether a certain society
values a particular right or principle at all.