DATA from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority showed that violations on the first full day of the implementation of the No-Contact Apprehension Program (NCAP) have reached more than 1,100.
The agency said 1,112 violators were apprehended on May 26, when the agency started re-enforcing the NCAP after the Supreme Court partially lifted its injunction on the policy.
“More than 3,000 recorded violations on the same date last year without NCAP. We also monitored and recorded last year, even if we did not issue traffic violation tickets since there was still an existing TRO against NCAP during that time,” the MMDA said.
The SC order allowed the MMDA to resume enforcing the scheme along major roadways in Metro Manila, such as EDSA.
The agency said most violations recorded were disregarding traffic signs, EDSA bus lane, motorcycle lane violations in Commonwealth Ave., and public utility vehicles’ inappropriate loading and unloading locations.
From 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. yesterday, the agency said the NCAP had 515 violations for a running total of 1,627.
MMDA chief Romando Artes earlier said the agency will deploy more CCTV cameras for the NCAP’s reimplementation to make it more effective.
As of now, the agency has installed 350 CCTVs.
At the House, Rep. Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez (PL, 1-Rider) filed House Resolution No. 2293, seeking a congressional investigation into the implementation of the NCAP, saying the unresolved hounding it “has caused confusion and frustration among motorists, particularly motorcycle riders.”
“The NCAP, designed to enforce traffic regulations through automated camera systems, has been plagued by issues, including unclear guidelines on vehicle ownership transfers, inconsistent enforcement, and persistent complaints about unclear road signage. These unresolved problems have led to confusion, unfair penalties, and delays in the program’s effective rollout, disproportionately affecting riders and other road users. It can be noted that the NCAP has, until very recently, been the subject of a Supreme Court TRO (temporary restraining order),” he said.
Gutierrez said the issues against NCAP have to be addressed first before it is implemented. “The intention behind NCAP is commendable, but the lifting of the TRO does not cure the existing problems,” he said.
“Its current implementation is flawed and unfairly impacts our motorists. We need clear road signage, transparent ownership transfer processes, and a system that respects due process to ensure fairness,” Gutierrez said.
Gutierrez said initial talks with the Land Transportation Office “seem to confirm our concerns that the systems in place are not ready.” He said the government cannot allow a system meant to promote road safety “to create more problems for our citizens. I am calling for a delay in NCAP’s implementation until the MMDA can demonstrate its readiness and address these critical issues.
“We have always had questions on NCAP implementation. This involves issues of fairness and due process. We have to remember the concerns about it in the past, such as unclear lane markings, conflicting road signs and delayed issuance of notice of violation and the accumulation of penalties,” the lawmaker later told reporters.
“We waited to see if the NCAP implementation will be any different now since the TRO was lifted, but it would appear that the lifting of the TRO is not so much in relation to any remedies that were done, but more on the appeal of the MMDA that it will be required for EDSA rehabilitation,” he added. – With Wendell Vigilia
