The No Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP) is back, but only partially. This is after the Supreme Court lifted the motion, but only against the MMDA. With that, NCAP will only cover the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and does not include local government units.
According to a report by ABS-CBN, Supreme Court Spokesperson Camille Sue Mae Ting said this takes effect immediately but can only be implemented by the MMDA officials in major thoroughfares, especially C5 and EDSA.
“In the case of KAPIT et al v. City of Manila, the Supreme Court granted the urgent motion filed by the Office of the Solicitor General on behalf of the MMDA, partially lifting the TRO issued last August 30 2022. Insofar as enjoined the MMDA from implementing MMDA Resolution No. 16-01 or its No Contact Apprehension Program,” she said in a press conference.Ting clarified that the partial lifting does not include the implementation of local government units and the fines.
“The TRO covers the MMDA Resolution and the local city ordinances. So, the TRO here is only lifted with respect to the MMDA, but it still remains with respect to the LGU ordinances,” she explained.
“It can only be implemented by the MMDA in major thoroughfares kasi yung MMDA resolution only refers to major thoroughfares, especially C5 and EDSA. So, it will not cover to places covered by the local ordinances such as local streets,” Ting added.
She added that “partial lifting” does not say how long it is in effect.
“Until the court says that the TRO is imposed again then it’s lifted,” Ting said.
In 2022, the high court issued the TRO against NCAP after it was criticized by transport groups as “unconstitutional”.
The Land Transportation Office (LTO) called on local government units to suspend and review NCAP, as the petition was filed against local ordinances in Manila, Quezon City, Valenzuela, Muntinlupa, and Parañaque.
NCAP is a policy that uses cameras and other technologies which can easily capture vehicles violating traffic laws. However, the LTO correctly points out that those opposing NCAP’s system is due to the fact that it’s the registered owners that are fined, not the drivers.
The problem with NCAP is that it is always open to abuse and that there are also many instances of possible misunderstanding (for one example, enforcer calling for counter flow but not seen by the camera and the cars now get penalized as they are mistaken to have done illegal counter flow). This is not the solution.
ReplyDeleteLocal govt should install digital counting stop lights to avoid any multpl apprehencion
ReplyDeleteRestriction on turning of vehicles especially for two lanes traffic should be revisited to lessen the build up of traffic as example in Legarda street, manila.
ReplyDelete