President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. signed the SIM Card Registration Act on Monday, his first act as the country’s top executive.

Several politicians, led by House Speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, attended a signing ceremony at Malacaang’s Ceremonial Hall.

Under the proposal, all public telecommunications companies (PTE) or direct vendors shall require SIM card users to produce a valid identity document with a photo.

Unless the subscriber approves access to his information, information in the SIM card registration is secret.

The law requires telecommunications firms to divulge their registered complete name and address in response to a court subpoena or order.

Meanwhile, law enforcement organizations investigating crimes committed using mobile phones may write to the companies requesting the details of the registered SIM card owner.

The SIM Card Registration Act, according to officer-in-charge of the Office of the Press Secretary Cheloy Garafil, intends to ensure “accountability in the use of SIM cards and aid law enforcers to track perpetrators of crimes committed through phones.”

The signing of the bill would also “significantly boost government initiatives against scams committed through text and online messages, which have become more prevalent this year.”