Gatchalian warns Pinoys about new GCash scam ahead of SIM registration

by Ellson Quismorio

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has cautioned Filipinos on a recently discovered GCash scam ahead of the start of SIM card registration on Dec. 27. 

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian (Facebook)

Gatchalian cited a fraudulent email apparently coming from GCash Promotions advising recipients that their transactions have been restricted and to reinstate the said feature, recipients have to pre-register by simply clicking a link, a process that could potentially compromise their online security. This has been confirmed by the GCash Team as a scam.

SIM stands for subscriber identity module. It is used on mobile devices such as phones and tablets. 

“Ipinaglaban natin ang pagsasabatas ng SIM registration sa nakalipas na maraming taon dahil gusto nating protektahan ang mga gumagamit ng SIM laban sa panloloko ng cyber criminals (We fought for SIM registration enactment in past years because we want SIM users to be protected from cyber criminals),” Gatchalian said.

“Kailangan nating abisuhan ang ating mga kababayan na mag-ingat nang husto laban sa mga sari-saring pambibiktima ng mga kawatan (We need to warn our countrymen to be careful against these fraudsters’ various schemes),” he added.

GCash is a popular e-wallet maintained by one of the country’s major telecommunications companies. 

Starting Dec. 27 this year, SIM users need to register their SIMs within 180 days or six months, or else have their SIM cards deactivated from their respective service providers.

A co-author of Republic Act (RA) 11934, or the SIM Registration Act, Gatchalian also urged SIM users to register their respective SIMs as soon as possible, emphasizing that doing so would enable authorities to track criminal-minded individuals who take advantage of unsuspecting customers.

Gatchalian also said the law includes provisions that would ensure the protection of customers’ personal information.

“Identity theft is precisely one of the online schemes that we want to prevent relative to the enactment of the SIM registration law. The process for the disclosure of personal information is a rigid one that necessitates a court order,” he emphasized.

Gatchalian said SIM users need to make sure that they register only through a secure platform or website provided by their respective service providers. The process of registration requires the following information including full name, date of birth, gender, address, and valid government ID or similar documents with a photo, while business users must provide their business name, business address, and the full name of an authorized signatory.

Gatchalian backs full face-to-face classes

By Javier Joe Ismael, Manila Times

SEN. Sherwin Gatchalian on Thursday expressed his support for the full resumption of face-to-face classes next academic school year, saying that such a move will boost the recovery of the basic education sector from the pandemic.

While the full resumption of in-person learning is a first step, Gatchalian cited the need to implement a massive learning recovery program.

The National Economic and Development Authority estimated that two years without face-to-face learning will result in P22-trillion productivity losses.

Gatchalian's proposed learning recovery program includes well-systematized tutorial sessions for struggling learners.

He said that the program will cover the most essential learning competencies under Language and Mathematics for Grades 1 to 10 and Science for Grades 3 to 10.

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Literacy and numeracy competencies will be given focus for Kindergarten learners to build on their foundational competencies, he added.

The Department of Education said that as of May 26, 34,238 schools were nominated to conduct face-to-face classes, 1,174 of which are private schools. Over 33,000 or 73.28 percent of public schools are already holding in-person classes.

"Matapos ang halos dalawang taon ng pagtugon natin sa mga hamon ng pandemya, napapanahon nang buksan natin ang lahat ng mga paaralan upang makabalik na ang mga mag-aaral. Habang patuloy ang pagbangon ng iba't ibang sektor, dapat nating tiyaking hindi mapag-iiwanan ang sektor ng edukasyon (After almost two years responding to the challenges of the pandemic, it's now time for us to open all our schools for all the learners. While the different sectors continue to rise, we should ensure that the education sector will not be left behind)," said Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture.

Gatchalian vowed to pursue legislation to improve the quality of education and accelerate the sector's recovery from the pandemic's impact.

DepEd urged to participate in vaccination of children

Congress recently ratified the bicameral conference committee report on the creation of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EdCom 2), a measure that Gatchalian sponsored.