Motorists' numerous complaints regarding the controversial No-Contact Apprehension Program (NCAP) weren heard loud and clear, resulting to its stoppage by order of the Supreme Court (SC).
Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers gave this assessment as he welcomed the High Court's temporary restraining order (TRO) on the much-maligned NCAP.
"Napakingggan ang clamor at ang hinaing ng ating mga motorista at ng ating mga mananakay dahil sa hindi magandang pagpapatupad ng NCAP na ito sa ating bansa (The clamor and complaints of our motorists and commuters over the improper implementation of NCAP in our country were heard)," Barbers said.
"That’s why dapat talaga ay pag-aralan mabuti bago natin i-implement (we should really study it thoroughly before we implement it). Let’s copy the best practices in other countries, yun ang gawin natin (that's what we should do)," the chairman of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs said.
Barbers, a member of the famed "Spice Boys", was among the more vocal solons against NCAP, which according to him was doing more harm than good.
Local government units (LGUs) have been barred from implementing the program, while the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said that it would no longer impose it.
"Isang magandang hakbang na i-TRO itong NCAP dahil nga sa dami ng kwestiyon ng ating mga kababayan. Eh talaga namang nagkaroon ng kaguluhan at ng kalituhan sa ating mga mananakay at sa ating mga motorista (The TRO on NCAP was a good move since our countrymen have lots of questions about it. It really caused chaos and confusion among our commuters and motorists)," noted Barbers.