THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) yesterday said it will resume the implementation of the No-Contact Apprehension Policy on Monday, May 26.
MMDA chief Romando Artes made the statement a day after the Supreme Court en banc partially lifted the Temporary Restraining Order it issued in August 2022 against the policy.
In its decision, the en banc said it is only lifting the injunction on the MMDA’s implementation of the policy along major roadways in Metro Manila.
The injunction on the implementation of similar policies by several local government units in the metropolis remained in effect as the SC has yet to rule on the petition by several transport groups.
Artes said the agency expects no major changes in the policy, saying they have been implementing it before the injunction.
“Wala namang pagbabago. Dati naman na po naming ini-implement ‘yan. Na-TRO lang po (There will be no changes. We have been implementing that before. It was just halted by the TRO),” Artes said in a television interview.
He said the MMDA will install “a thousand more cameras” now that the SC has allowed the agency to enforce the policy on major roadways.
Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra, who argued the MMDA’s case before the SC and filed an urgent motion last Friday calling for the lifting of the injunction, said aside from EDSA and C5, the NCAP will also be enforced on Katipunan, Marcos Highway, Roxas Blvd, Commonwealth Ave., Quezon Ave., West Ave., E. Rodriguez, and Buendia, among others.
“The lifting of the TRO will foster traffic discipline, help improve traffic management, and reduce vehicular accidents,” Guevarra said.
Artes said motorists apprehended under the NCAP can still contest the traffic violation receipts with the agency.
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.
A similar policy was implemented by the MMDA during the time of agency chairperson Bayani Fernando but bus operators sued and managed to get a ruling from the Makati City Regional Trial Court stopping its enforcement.
