THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) recorded close to 600 apprehensions yesterday as the No Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP) was enforced anew on EDSA and other major roadways in the metropolis.
Data provided by the agency showed that from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. yesterday, it recorded 97 apprehensions. At 2 p.m., the apprehensions rose to 437. By 4 p.m., the number reached 582.
“Mostly disregarding traffic signs and busway ang nature of violations,” the MMDA Public Information Office said.
The NCAP is being enforced on C4- EDSA, C1-Recto, C2-Mendoza, Pres. Quirino Ave., C3-Araneta, C5-C.P. Garcia, Katipunan Ave., Tandang Sora, R1-Roxas Boulevard, R2-Taft Ave., R3-South Superhighway, R4-Shaw Boulevard, R5-Ortigas Ave., R6-Magsaysay Boulevard, Aurora Boulevard, R7-Quezon Ave., Commonwealth Ave., R8-A. Bonifacio, R9-Rizal Ave., and R10-Del Pan, Marcos Highway-McArthur Highway.
The Supreme Court partially lifted the temporary restraining order it issued in 2022 against the implementation of the NCAP on May 20, paving the way for the comeback of the policy.
In a press conference, MMDA chief Romando Artes said they decided to go ahead with the NCAP’s implementation instead of conducting a dry run.
“No more dry run kasi dapat naman talaga sumunod tayo sa batas trapiko sa lahat ng oras (No more dry run since we should all have to obey traffic rules),” Artes said.
Artes also allayed concerns about data privacy issues regarding the NCAP’s implementation, saying: “Sarili po namin ang sistema, wala kaming third party provider kaya maaalagaan namin ang access sa pribadong datos (We have our own system, we have no third-party provider so we can assure the public that it is only us that we will have access to private data).”
Artes said motorists apprehended under the NCAP can still contest the traffic violation receipts with the agency at the online filing platform of the MMDA Traffic Adjudication Division.
He added that motorists can also appeal at the MMDA office in Pasig City from Monday to Friday.
The NCAP utilizes CCTV and digital cameras to identify and apprehend traffic violators through videos and images captured of their violation.
Once a violation is detected, the LGU concerned issues traffic citation tickets and mails them directly to the vehicle’s registered owners.
Non-payment of fines within seven days means their vehicles will not be accommodated for re-registration.
CALL FOR FAIRNESS
Senate President Francis Escudero yesterday called on the MMDA to ensure fairness, fast, and transparent implementation of the NCAP to ease motorists’ concerns over the policy.
Escudero noted that “reactions to its resumption have not been encouraging” due to issues of fairness in apprehensions and whether due process will be followed.
He said one of the concerns raised by motorists was the speed at which the Notice of Violations (NOVs) will be delivered since the MMDA earlier said “this will take time and as such there are potential problems that will come up.”
In a fact sheet released by the MMDA to the public, Escudero said there will be an initial review of flagged violations, after which the registration of the vehicles will be verified with the Land Transportation Office.
He added that once all information has been entered into the NCAP system, the NOVs will be printed out and sent to the registered address of the vehicle owner via the “snail mail.”
Escudero said it is only when the NOVs are received by the violators that they can start the appeals process, if they still wish to challenge the basis of apprehensions.
“It appears that the whole process will take a lot of time, as the NOVs will be sent via snail mail. It may be that the motorist will not be able to recall the alleged violation. The NOV must be sent within days after the alleged violation — the shorter the time it will take, the better,” Escudero said.
If the NOV is not received by the violator at the soonest possible time or if it is lost in the mail, he said that penalties for non-payment of fines will accumulate, which will add more burden to the motorist.
Escudero said the MMDA should send the NOVs via the registered emails of the motorists, if these are available in its system, to expedite the process.
He said the MMDA should also fix the “problematic lane markings,” traffic lights, and signages “since these will be the basis for many of the violations and apprehensions.
“Evidence should be clear and, as much as possible, indisputable. Enforcement of traffic rules and regulations should be consistent. It must be applied to all, no exceptions. This is how programs such as the NCAP will be justified and later on, accepted by all,” he said.
“Penalizing motorists based on unclear, confusing, blurred traffic signs would give rise to suspicion that the program is really about monetizing the mistakes of drivers. The government should not profit from penalties caused by vague traffic directions. This is primarily about raising the level of road discipline and not raising revenues,” he added.
Sen. Grace Poe said the re-implementation of NCAP is good as it prevents corruption among traffic enforcers, but the MMDA must make sure the system is in order.
“We need high-resolution cameras with automated number plate recognition, clear evidence with timestamps and GPS coordinates, and 99.5% system uptime standards — similar to what Singapore uses in its Electronic Road Pricing system,” Poe said.
Poe said there should also be a “dedicated independent review board with the MMDA with qualified traffic commissioners” to review the apprehensions.
For quick receipt of NOVs, Poe said the MMDA should send these notices through the violators’ SMS numbers, while “a review period and an online dispute portal that is user-friendly and easy to navigate” must be in place so that motorists will know how and where to appeal.
She said any change in road regulations like “no U-turn or one-way street” should not be made abruptly, as these will also be the causes of confusion, thus the driver will most likely commit a traffic violation.
“Dapat may 15-day advance notice period bago simulan ang NCAP sa area (There should be a 15-day notice period before NCAP will be implemented in a certain area),” she said.
She said the MMDA should have addressed these concerns before it re-implemented the program
“Automated traffic enforcement is widely studied in Europe, Australia, and the United States. This limited implementation in the metro’s major highways should serve as a pilot study for a data-driven rollout of NCAP to the rest of the country,” Poe said.
“Aasahan natin ang masigasig na pagpapatupad ng MMDA ng guidelines para sa NCAP (We expect that the MMDA will come up with fixed guidelines in the re-implementation of NCAP),” she added. – With Raymond Africa
