CITING the drastic rise in traffic violations and accidents, the Office of the Solicitor General yesterday asked the Supreme Court to lift the temporary restraining order it issued against the implementation of the no-contact apprehension program (NCAP) by local government units in Metro Manila and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.
In its reply to the memorandum submitted by the petitioners, the OSG also asked the High Court to immediately resolve the petition assailing the constitutionality of the NCAP.
The NCAP utilizes CCTV and digital cameras to identify and apprehend traffic violators through videos and images captured of their violations.
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.
Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra said there is a need to lift the TRO considering that the number of traffic violations has gone up to close to 257,000 as recorded by CCTV cameras of the MMDA since the High Court’s issuance of the injunction on August 30, 2022.
Guevarra said prior to the temporary suspension of the NCAP, traffic violations in the metropolis averaged only 9,500 per month.
“Clearly, the NCAP acts as an effective deterrent against traffic violations,” Guevarra, whose office is representing the Land Transportation Office in the case, said.
Earlier, the MMDA said despite the NCAP suspension, it continued to monitor traffic violations throughout the metropolis and reminded motorists to strictly follow traffic rules and regulations to prevent road accidents.
Aside from the rise in traffic violations, Guevarra also noted a hike in the number of accidents in the metropolis in the last quarter of 2022 when the NCAP was already suspended.
Guevarra also said there have been numerous developments that show the need to resume the implementation of the NCAP since the conclusion of the oral arguments on the petition last January 24, 2023.
He said this includes the adoption by the Metro Manila Council of the “single-ticketing System” last May 9, 2023.
The MMC, whose members are the 17 Metro mayors, is the policy-making body of the MMDA.
Also approved by the MMC was the Joint Metro Manila Traffic Circular No. 01, Series of 2023, establishing the Metro Manila Traffic Code of 2023 which is intended to harmonize existing national and local laws on traffic enforcement to establish effective transport and traffic management in the metropolis.
Guevarra also told the SC that due to the existing injunction on the NCAP, the pilot testing of the single-ticketing system was limited to physical or contact apprehensions.
“The prompt resolution of the pending petitions will enable the government to implement needed measures to better manage the traffic situation in Metro Manila, and contribute to an improving economy and way of life,” Guevarra said.
The TRO on the NCAP stemmed from the consolidated petitions filed by several transport groups such as the Kilusan sa Pagbabago ng Industriya ng Transportasyon Inc., Pangkalahatang Sangguniang Manila and Suburbs Drivers Association Nationwide, Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines, and Alliance of Concerned Transport Organization and lawyer Juman Paa.
Last year, MMDA chief Romando Artes said the agency will need around 7,000 traffic enforcers amid the absence of the NCAP to be able to cover the 17 LGUs in the metropolis.
“Kung walang NCAP (If there is no NCAP), we will need at least 7,000 traffic enforcers. Kung may NCAP sufficient na ang 2, 500 na traffic enforcers (If there’s an NCAP, 2, 500 traffic enforcers are sufficient for us),” Artes said then.
The MMDA currently has 2,500 traffic personnel spread over all major roadways and thoroughfares in three shifts daily.
