(File photo) MANILA - The House of Representatives on Monday approved on third and final reading a measure requiring the registration of all postpaid and prepaid mobile phone subscriber identity module (SIM) cards. With 250 affirmative votes, six negative votes, and one abstention, the chamber passed House Bill 14, or the proposed SIM Card Registration Act, which is aimed at preventing the proliferation of mobile phone scams, data breaches, and assist law enforcement agencies in resolving crimes involving the use of mobile phone units. Under the measure, every public telecommunications entity (PTE) or authorized seller shall require an end user to accomplish and sign in triplicate a numbered registration form issued by the PTE. The form shall include an attestation that the person appearing before the seller is the same person who accomplished the document and that he or she presented valid identification cards. The form shall indicate the subscriber's name, date of birth, gender,
(File photo) MANILA - The House of Representatives on Tuesday night approved on final reading a proposal imposing a 12 percent value-added tax (VAT) on digital transactions in the country to generate new funding sources for the country's Covid-19 response efforts. With 167 affirmative votes, six negative votes, and one abstention, the Chamber passed on third reading House Bill 7425 seeking to amend Section 105 of the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC) by taxing digital service providers that operate through online platforms. The bill seeks to clarify the imposition of VAT on online advertisement services, digital services in exchange for a regular subscription fee, and supply of other electronic and online services that can be delivered through the Internet. Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, a principal author of the bill, said foreign corporations selling digital services, such as Netflix, Spotify, and others, will have to pay for and impose VAT on their services. "We have now clar