BATANG MAYNILA
Mayor Isko Moreno
Early last week, we in the city government of Manila launched the “no contact apprehension” program (NCAP) in an effort to do away with the hassles that usually attend apprehensions made by our traffic enforcers.
As we all know, arguments, accidents as well as accusations and counter-accusations that sometimes lead to fisticuffs arise from face-to-face apprehensions between traffic enforcers particularly of the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau (MTPB) and motorists. The new scheme will limit all that, specially human interaction so that it is even an added measure against COVID transmission.
With the NCAP in place, it means that 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, there will be ‘enforcers’ monitoring traffic violations. Only this time, the monitoring would be via technology using cameras.
We thus appeal to all motorists passing through the streets and roads in Manila to practice voluntary discipline in the streets and follow all traffic rules and regulations because we have placed cameras in various strategic locations in the city and no one will be able to escape them. If there is a saying that pictures don’t lie, more so with videos.
Imagine this. A test-run we conducted before the formal launch of the program showed about 700 motorists violating traffic rules in a matter of just 24 hours of monitoring.
Initially, 36 such cameras have been installed in various strategic areas in the city and eventually, all roads and streets will already be covered and we can say goodbye to human interaction as the cameras will capture the violation and then send a bill to the motorist, who in turn will have to settle his dues or pay the penalties once their vehicle registration or license is due for renewal.
The motorist concerned will also be sent a copy of a picture of the violation he had committed. The picture will be attached to the bill.
I urge those who will be caught in violation to not disregard the need to pay the fees as this will be rolled over along with the penalties arising from non-payment.
The violation fees are very high, ranging from a minimum of P2,000 up to P5,000. This is intended to encourage all motorists to practice voluntary or self-disipline while they are on the road.
We in the city government do not wish to raise the city coffers out of penalties or payments from traffic violations. This will not make us happy because we would prefer not to make any income out of the people’s disregard for traffic rules.
Similarly, we also call on pedestrians to use the lanes intended for them and to also practice discipline in order to avoid accidents.
Alongside all these, I signed City Ordinance 8699, which was passed by the Manila City Council headed by Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna as its presiding officer, Majority Ffloorleader Atty. Joel Chua, and President Pro Tempore Jong Isip.
This ordinance grants amnesty for all delinquent holders of ordinance violation receipts (OVRs) or those with accumulated penalties, interests, and surcharges and whose licenses have been previously confiscated by the MTPB or any commissioned officer authorized by the City of Manila.
MTPB Director Dennis Viaje has been apprised of the ordinance and his personnel in charge of processing OVRs are all ready to begin working on them.
The accumulated penalties, interests, and surcharges of the violation ticket shall be waived. Hence, the holders of OVRs shall pay only the original amount of violation and payments made under the amnesty shall be unconditional. Thus, payments under protest shall not be allowed.
The amnesty may be availed of within 90 days from the effectivity of the ordinance and thereafter, no further amnesty shall be granted and the accumulated penalties will be paid in accordance with the original computation of the penalties, interests, and surcharges.
Under the ordinance I signed, even holders of OVRs with pending cases relative to their traffic violation are also eligible to avail of the amnesty.
Those who avail will be exempt from criminal, civil, and administrative liability arising from violation of traffic rules and regulations under Ordinance No. 8092, the Manila Traffic Code, without prejudice to the prosecution of other violations under existing laws and ordinances, rules and regulations.
The amnesty is aimed at helping the motorists in this time of the pandemic. Let me be clear though. It is not in any way meant to condone traffic violators and we are still calling on each and every motorist passing through the city roads to follow traffic rules and regulations at all times.
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Gaya ng paulit-ulit kong sinasabi, kailangan ko ang tulong ninyong lahat. Walang magmamalasakit sa Maynila kundi tayo ding mga Batang Maynila. Manila, God first!***
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