THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) yesterday said it has apprehended more than 5,000 traffic violators since it resumed enforcing the No Contact Apprehension Program (NCAP) on major roadways in the metropolis last May 26 after getting the go-signal from the Supreme Court.
Data provided by the agency showed there were 5,436 NCAP apprehensions from May 26 to June. The data also showed that from 1,112 apprehensions on the first day, just 565 apprehensions were recorded on June 1.
On May 27, the MMDA recorded 690 NCAP apprehensions, followed by 799 on May 28; 858 on May 29; 923 on May 30; and 489 on May 31.
Most violations were disregarding traffic signs, EDSA bus lane, motorcycle lane violations on Commonwealth Ave., and public utility vehicles’ inappropriate loading and unloading locations.
Earlier, MMDA Chairperson Romando Artes said motorists are becoming more disciplined and adhering to traffic rules since the agency resumed enforcing the NCAP.
The SC has partially lifted the injunction it imposed in August 2022, allowing the MMDA to resume enforcing the NCAP, but not for a similar program being implemented by several local government units in Metro Manila.
Artes said the data showed that motorists are becoming more aware that any traffic violation they commit will be recorded and are now becoming more disciplined.
“Yes, there is a significant decline in the number of apprehensions in the past three days. The only reason we see is that drivers are cautious and are following traffic rules, knowing violations can be caught through CCTV cameras,” Artes said.
The MMDA has deployed around 350 CCTVs in strategic locations on EDSA and other major roadways. Artes said they would deploy more in the coming days.
Artes also said the MMDA respects the stand of those who have voiced their opposition to the NCAP, including those from the transport sector.
He added that the MMDA will use it to further improve the implementation of the NCAP.
“Susuriin ng MMDA ang mga concerns tungkol sa NCAP at titiyakin na masosolusyunan ang mga ito (We will review the concerns about the NCAP and we will make sure to address all of them),” he said.
MMDA WARNING
The MMDA warned motorists against tampering or concealing license plates to evade the NCAP, adding they will be charged with a criminal offense and fined P10,000.
The agency issued the warning after turning over to the Land Transportation Office documents containing images of motorists who intentionally covered, concealed, and tampered with the license plates of their vehicles to evade being captured by the closed-circuit television cameras of the NCAP.
“More than 50 drivers are possibly facing criminal charges for obscuring their license plates. Within a week of the NCAP’s implementation, 90 percent of those apprehended had their license plates veiled and generally were motorcycles,” MMDA Special Operations Group-Strike Force head Gabriel Go said in a press briefing held at the LTO office in Quezon City.
“Chairman Artes ordered our field personnel to physically apprehend and to issue citation tickets to vehicles with concealed license plates immediately,” Go added.
He said that aside from the round-the-clock monitoring using CCTV cameras at the agency’s communication and command center in Pasig City, the agency is also monitoring social media where the public is posting violators of the NCAP, especially those who are tampering or concealing their license plates.
LTO Executive Director Greg Pua Jr. said they will immediately send show cause orders to the traffic violators and warned motorists against concealing their license plates to avoid NCAP apprehension.
Pua said this would violate Republic Act No.11235 or the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act, which, among others, states that purposely concealing a readable license plate is punishable with imprisonment ranging from six months and one day to two years, or a fine of not more than P10,000.
“Covering a license plate is already a traffic code violation. We will use all our resources to identify violators. This is also to ensure road and public safety,” Pua added.
The officials said their agencies are also coordinating with other law enforcement agencies to track down those promoting illegal tactics on social media and selling items intended to hide details on license plates.
“We are also urging the public to report such infractions so we can act on it,” Go added.
