MMDA eyeing community service for NCAP violations
(INQUIRER file photo / Grig C. Montegrande)
MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is planning to impose community service for motorists cited for violations through the No Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP).
MMDA Chairman Don Artes bared the plan in dialogue conducted by the MMDA with different motorcycle riding communities on Friday, June 20, at the MMDA office in Pasig City.
“As you said, what you earn in a day is not commensurate. We are already thinking of a way, just like our President ordered to clean the water roads. Maybe you can just do community service, especially on your day-off so that instead of losing time in your livelihood or instead of paying what you should be feeding your family, just do community service,” Artes said.
According to Artes, they are going to study the kind of community service and the length that a motorist should go through for every violation recorded via NCAP.
He added that they are also considering the motorcycle riders working full-time and without a day off in implementing the plan.
READ: MMDA launches website for traffic violators caught through NCAP
“Sabi nga po, yung iba full-time, walang day-off. So baka instead na, kunyari—sa P1,000—instead na 8 hours, gawin nating 3 or 4 hours [na community service],” Artes said.
“As they say, others work full-time, no days off. So maybe instead of, say, P1,000—instead of 8 hours, let’s do 3 or 4 hours [of community service],” Artes said in Filipino.
“We’ll discuss whether the hours can be shortened so that even after community service, they can still work,” he added.
‘No lowering in NCAP violation fines’
According to Artes, the MMDA is not considering reducing fines for the NCAP violations.
“We won’t reduce the fee because the penalty, you’re not the only ones affected by that. What about the rich ones? Like those who violate number coding, you’re exempted from number coding,” he said.
“What they will do is, ‘instead of taking a taxi, I’ll just violate, I’ll just pay’ because the penalty is just a small amount, so we have to consider that. The well-off, they are more likely not to do community service because they can pay.”
READ: No Contact Apprehension Policy: How to file appeal, settle fines
Reimplemented on May 26, the NCAP is in effect 24/7 on 10 radial roads in Metro Manila, such as Edsa, Commonwealth Avenue, Roxas Boulevard, Taft Avenue, and Aurora Boulevard.
On June 16, the MMDA launched its “May Huli Ka” website to allow motorists to check online if they were cited for traffic violations.
