NEDA sorry for issues in national ID online system; likens it to opening restaurant

National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Karl Chua apologized for inconvenience of its online registration for the national ID system, saying the launch of the online portal is like opening a new restaurant.

In a televised Cabinet meeting on Monday, Chua said their online system encountered technical issues because they were swamped with registrants during its opening last April 30.  

He said their website can only accommodate 16,000 users per minute but it received 46,000 applicants for the national ID system, which caused the system downtime.

"Ang nangyari, bumagal ang website at maraming hindi naserve dahil marami tayong slowness or downtime," he said.

"'Yung analogy po nito ay isang bagong restaurant or theme park. Nagprepare naman tayo sa usual sa holiday and usual peak. 'Yung sa first day, 'di na-serve lahat. Maraming gustong tumikim sa bagong restaurant at magenjoy sa theme park," Chua added.

The NEDA chief "conveyed his sincerest apologies to the Filipinos for the inconvenience."

He said they are working closely with international and local experts to enhance the capacity of the website to accept national ID registrants.

As of May 3, Chua said 33.4 million Filipinos have completed the first step for registration of national ID, which is capture of the demographic data.

Chua previously said the ID system will help speed up vaccination programs as well as deployment of cash assistance during the lockdown.

It will also help poor families to create their own bank accounts.

The national ID system was enforced to harmonize and integrate different and repetitive government IDs.—LDF, GMA News