Senate President Francis “Chiz” G. Escudero on Monday, May 26 called on the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to ensure a fair and transparent implementation of the No Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP) to allay fears and concerns of motorists over its enforcement. 

This, after the Supreme Court lifted the temporary restraining order (TRO) on NCAP but the partial lifting covers only those along major thoroughfares. 

Escudero noted the reactions to the resumption of the NCAP have not been encouraging and some motorists have raised issues of fairness in apprehensions and if due process would be followed. 

One of the issues raised was the speed in which the notices or violations ( NOVs) could be delivered. 

Based on the information provided by MMDA, Escudero noted that “this will take time and as such there are potential problems that will come up.”

“Evidence should be clear and as much as possible, indisputable. Enforcement of traffic rules and regulations should be consistent,” Escudero said.

Moreover, the rules must be applied “to all, no exceptions.” 

“This is how programs such as the NCAP will be justified and later on, accepted by all,” he said.

“Dapat matanggal sa isip ng mga motorista na ang NCAP ay isang paraan lang para kumita ang MMDA o gobyerno at ang pagsasaayos ng pagpapatupad nito at ng mga batas trapiko ang pinaka-importanteng hakbang para maging katanggap-tanggap para sa lahat ang programang ito (Motorists should be reminded that NCAP isn’t just a way for the MMDA or the government to make money and that streamlining its implementation and traffic laws is the most important step to make this program acceptable to all),” the veteran legislator added.

Escudero said one of the things the MMDA has to fix is the concern of motorists on delays on the release of NOVs 

“Lumalabas na matagal ang buong proseso at via snail mail pa ang pagpapadala ng NOVs (It turns out that the whole process is taking a long time and that the NOVs are being sent via snail mail),” he pointed out.

“Maaaring pag dumating na ang NOV ay hindi na matandaan ng motorista ang umanong violation. Ang dapat dito ay araw lang ang bilang—mas mabilis mas maganda (It is possible that when the NOV arrives, the motorist will no longer remember the alleged violation. What should be done here is just to count the days—the faster the better),” he said. 

The MMDA should also utilize motorists’ emails if these are available in their system in order to expedite the process as penalties for non-payment of fines could also accumulate if the NOVs are lost in the mail for one reason or another.