Valenzuela to enforce no-contact apprehension on busy streets

MANILA, Philippines — By the end of August, Valenzuela will be implementing a no-contact apprehension policy (NCAP) on some of the city’s busiest thoroughfares, using closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras and other gadgets to catch errant motorists.

McArthur Highway is one of the roads that will be included in the first phase of the program, according to Mayor Rex Gatchalian.

At the moment, the city government is “installing cameras, perfecting analytics, fine-tuning penalties” and drafting the implementing rules and regulations before the launch of the NCAP policy by the end of next month.

Notices to be mailed

Motorists whose violations are captured by road cameras will be tracked down in coordination with the Land Transportation Office. A notice of violation will be sent to them via postal mail. It will include the date, time, place and type of traffic violation committed.

City public information officer Zyan Caiña, however, said that the operator/owner of the vehicle would be fined, not the driver, with the offending party given a chance to contest the violation.

“We will gradually build the NCAP policy until all major traffic intersections are covered. We’re expecting to cover over 24 intersections in the city,” Gatchalian told the Inquirer.

The NCAP policy is the first part of a wider traffic management scheme to be implemented in the city. The local government is also planning to install parking meters in selected areas to generate revenues.

Revenues to fund treatment

The money raised through the NCAP policy would be used to fund the medical expenses of over 1,000 dialysis patients in Valenzuela City.

“Philhealth (Philippine Health Insurance Corp.) covers only 90 session days of dialysis treatment. We want to bridge the gap for patients,” said Gatchalian.

He added that starting in the last quarter of the year, the treatment of dialysis patients would no longer be covered by the insurance company. Patients would have to turn to other organizations to seek financial assistance.

Valenzuela City signed the joint venture agreement for the management and operation of the traffic management scheme with QPAX Traffic Systems Inc. on June 11.