MMDA starts installing NCAP CCTVs in some NCR private schools

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has started installing closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in private schools along major roads in Metro Manila as part of the reimplementation of the No Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP) — INQUIRER file photo / Grig C. Montegrande

MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has started installing closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in private schools along major roads in Metro Manila as part of the reimplementation of the No Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP).

MMDA chair Don Artes said this during a meeting with representatives of private schools at the MMDA office in Pasig City on Thursday.

Among the representatives who attended the meeting with the MMDA chair were those from Ateneo de Manila University, La Salle Greenhills, Saint Pedro Poveda College, Miriam College, Xavier School, and Immaculate Conception Academy.

According to Artes, the installation of CCTVs in private schools aims to solve the traffic congestion and address traffic violations, such as illegal loading and unloading in schools.

As the CCTV cameras will be installed in schools, the MMDA chief said some of the traffic enforcers will be pulled out.

“We will remove our enforcers from the schools because what is happening is that we are being accused that our enforcers are accepting bribes. So that instead of managing traffic, what is happening is they are protecting those who are still obstructing,” Artes said.

(So, more likely, we will pull out the enforcers, and the CCTV will catch (traffic violators),” he said, adding: “We’ll just put enforcers in place to manage the traffic.”

About the initiative, Artes also shared with school representatives that they have already installed CCTVs at the following locations along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (Edsa):

• Edsa Balintawak Market Southbound
• Edsa MCU Northbound
• Edsa Taft Avenue Northbound
• Edsa Guadix

READ: MMDA: CCTV cameras with AI capabilities for NCAP

School representatives welcome the initiative

During the meeting, the representatives of private schools welcomed the MMDA’s initiative to install NCAP CCTVs at their respective premises.

They, meanwhile, raised questions with regard to guidelines for the smooth and consistent traffic rules, specifically for the loading and unloading, in schools.

READ: No Contact Apprehension Policy: How to file appeal, settle fines

Artes said that the MMDA is currently working on the specific guidelines as the installation of CCTV cameras is ongoing and expected to be completed “in a week or two.”

The MMDA chief also said that the agency will conduct separate meetings for each school representative next week for the swift implementation of the initiative.

Reimplemented on May 26, 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./coa