MMDA: No Contact Apprehension Policy back on Monday
MANILA, Philippines — The implementation of the No Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP) will resume on Monday, May 26, according to Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Don Artes.
The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday partially lifted the restraining order it issued against the agency’s enforcement of NCAP.
The NCAP covers Edsa, C5, Katipunan Avenue, Marcos Highway, Roxas Boulevard, Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon Avenue, West Avenue, E. Rodriguez Avenue, and Sen. Gil Puyat (formerly Buendia) Avenue.
“Yes, Monday,” Artes said in a Viber message on Wednesday when asked about the resumption of NCAP’s implementation.
Earlier, the MMDA lodged an urgent motion through the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) seeking to lift the restraining order.
The OSG asked the SC to allow the MMDA to fully enforce its road and traffic management programs to ease the severe traffic congestion along major thoroughfares and protect road users.
Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra explained that the MMDA needs to harmonize the existing national and local traffic enforcement laws following the approval of the Single Ticketing System.
In August 2022, the SC issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the MMDA’s implementation of NCAP. The TRO is due to a consolidated petition.
Based on previous reports, the first one was filed by several transport groups such as the Kilusan sa Pagbabago ng Industriya ng Transportasyon Inc., Pangkalahatang Sagguniang Manila, Suburbs Drivers Association Nationwide, Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines, and Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations.
The second petition was filed by lawyer Juman B. Paa.
Paa filed a petition before the SC after he was forced to pay big fines in Manila for four traffic violations relating to NCAP, including obstruction of the pedestrian lane.
Paa was required to pay fines before he was allowed to register his vehicle.
Meanwhile, the transport groups said the NCAP had no legal basis under the MMDA charter and the Republic Act 4136, or the Land Transportation and Traffic Act.
