THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority yesterday said it will work with other government agencies to ensure the efficient and orderly implementation of the no-contact traffic apprehension policy (NCAP).
The agency issued the statement after the Land Transportation Office appealed to local government units to suspend and review the implementation of NCAP and called for a legislative investigation on the implementation of the policy, which has been in place since 2016.
“The MMDA welcomes the call for legislative investigation on its NCAP which has been in place since 2016 and will definitely cooperate with other branches of government agencies to ensure a more efficient and orderly implementation of the said policy,” the MMDA said.
Last Tuesday, Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert “Ace” Barbers asked the House of Representatives to investigate the NCAP after his office received multiple complaints, primarily from motorcycle delivery riders, of excessive fines levied without due process.
The MMDA said it respects the “autonomy of all LGUs in crafting and implementing their own traffic regulations.”
Earlier, LTO chief Teofilo Guadez III said the NCAP appears to be flawed since it holds vehicle owners, not the drivers, liable for traffic violations.
Guadez said his office has received complaints from public utility vehicle operators who were made to pay the fine instead of the one driving the vehicle at the time of the violation.
He said the role of the LTO in the NCAP is just to send an alarm about the vehicle in violation since the MMDA and the LGUs are implementing the policy.
The NCAP utilizes CCTV and digital cameras to identify traffic violators through videos and images.
A similar policy was implemented by the MMDA during the time of agency chair Bayani Fernando but bus operators sued and managed to get a ruling from the Makati City regional trial court stopping its implementation.
