House Deputy Speaker and Batangas 6th district Rep. Ralph Recto believes that the much-panned No Contact Apprehension Program (NCAP) needs to undergo further studies and public consultations.
"The national government must look under NCAP’s hood and tweak and treat the program of its defects. Para kung ibabalik man, walang malawakang reklamo na ang hulicam ay parang hulidap (So that when it does come back, hulicams will no longer be branded as hulidap)," Recto said in a statement Thursday, Feb. 23.
Recto was reacting to the possible return of the NCAP--which uses closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras to spot violations from motorists and pedestrians--this coming April.
"But even if judicial roadblocks are lifted, the should not be resumed until broad consultations, whose end is cure it of its weaknesses, are held," he said. "As NCAP is getting viral, spreading to other LGUs (local government units), the rules must be made clear, so there will be benchmarks as to fines imposed, as well as the limits of ROI (return of investment) of private contractors," he said.
Recto said that while he agrees that CCTVs could be used as a tool to enhance traffic enforcement and to impose rules, "that should be the only motivation, and never to raise revenues".
"The objective is to have uniform rule that binds the entire country," noted the former Senate President pro tempore. One way to do this is for Malacañang to step in, he said.
"Mainam siguro kung iutos ng Malacanang ang isang pag-aaral na ang layunin ay bumalangkas ng isang national policy guidelines sa programang ito (It would he better if Malacañang orders a study for the purpose of drafting national policy guidelines for this program). Crowdsource the ideas, canvass the best practices, and cure it of its weaknesses."
Recto continued: "At kapag nabuo, ipatupad by way of legislation. Kung pwede idaan sa pamamagitan ng EO (executive order) ni Pangulong BBM, bakit hindi? (And once they are formed, implement it by way of legislation. If possible, why not enforce it via EO from President BBM?)"
Recto said the public consultations should clearly show what can be considered as violations. The people who will review the footage--whether they be from the government or private contractor--must also have clear legal basis to impose the penalties, he underscored.
"Kung ang kalsada may lanes at speed limits, ganun din sa NCAP dapat. Hindi pwede ang freewheeling (If roads have lanes and speed limits, so too should the NCAP)," he said.