Photo Courtesy: Grig C. Montegrande from Inquirer.Net
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) resumed its No Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP) on Monday, May 27, with over 580 traffic offenses reported on the first day of operation, according to the agency.
The policy, which relies on traffic cameras and monitoring devices to detect offenses without face-to-face interaction, was suspended in August 2022 due to legal objections and public concerns.
MMDA Acting Chairman Don Artes revealed that the agency's cameras detected 580 breaches in the first 12 hours of operation, the majority of which were disobeying traffic signs and unlawful lane usage.
Artes further stated that these data emphasize the necessity for stricter traffic policing in Metro Manila.
“Noong 2022 bago ma-TRO ang NCAP, meron lamang pong 114,000 na naitala na violations. Noong 2023, habang hindi naiimplementa ang NCAP, lumobo ang namonitor naming violations although hindi 'yan nai-isyuhan ng ticket, sa 391,000. So halos apat na ulit po ang itinaas,” Artes said in a press conference.
The MMDA explained that the policy's reactivation is now limited to particular locations within its control, including as EDSA, C5, Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon Avenue, and Roxas Boulevard.
Under the NCAP, motorists captured on CCTV breaching traffic laws will get violation warnings via registered mail. The technology is intended to reduce human interference, prevent corruption, and promote road safety and discipline.
Meanwhile, Senator Francis Escudero urged the MMDA to ensure that the program is executed fairly and transparently.
He encouraged the government to tighten its appeals process, give motorists proper access to evidence, and establish clear processes for appealing penalties.
“Evidence should be clear and as much as possible, indisputable. Enforcement of traffic rules and regulations should be consistent,” Escudero said.
In response to public concerns, Artes stated that the MMDA would increase its awareness campaign to educate motorists about the policy's mechanics and legal procedures.
He assured the public that all CCTV footage is being manually reviewed to ensure accuracy, and that suspected violators can access video and photo evidence of their infractions through the MMDA's NCAP online portal.
“Although naka-capture po siya ng ating AI, nire-review po lahat 'yan mano-mano. So maiiwasan po 'yung sobrang strict na implementation noon pong mga traffic rules and regulations natin,” he said.
He also clarified that motorists will not face violations in places without sufficient traffic signage and markings.
The MMDA stated that it will continue to evaluate the program's effectiveness and resolve any developing concerns, while also working with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to improve accessibility and information distribution.
“Meron na po kaming inaayos with telco and LTO. In fact may meeting po kami sa darating na araw, regarding po sa text notice na ang kailangan lamang po naming iwasan ay unang una yung scam dahil marami pong nagpapadala niyan na ‘Uy may huli ka i-click mo ang link na ‘to dito mo bayaran.’ Yan po ay kailangan naming i-address,” he said.
They further highlighted that the NCAP is part of a larger initiative to improve traffic enforcement and decrease congestion in the capital region.
Meanwhile, they also highlighted that its primary purpose is not to penalize motorists, but rather 'to establish discipline and encourage proper road behavior among the public'.