The end goal of the No Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP) should be to promote safe and responsible driving, Senator Grace Poe reminded the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Monday, May 26.

That is why the MMDA should address all issues about the NCAP to improve the policy, as she looks forward to the agency’s diligent implementation of better guidelines for NCAP. 

“Naiintindihan natin ang layunin ng MMDA na gawing mas epektibo at patas ang pagpapatupad ng batas-trapiko gamit ang (We understand the MMDA’s goal to make traffic law enforcement more effective and fair through the) NCAP,” Poe said.

“In many advance countries like London and Singapore, technology helps address enforcement challenges. Mas maigi nang gumamit tayo ng teknolohiya na iwas-kotong para siguraduhing may kaayusan sa ating mga lansangan (We would be better off using technology that prevents corruption to ensure order on our streets),” she said.

“Kailangan lang siguruhin na maayos ang sistema (We just need to make sure the system is working properly),” the senator stressed.

Poe made the remark after the Supreme Court lifted the temporary restraining order (TRO) on NCAP and the MMDA moves to implement the policy only on major thoroughfares. 

She urged the MMDA to consider mounting high-resolution cameras with automated number plate recognition, clear evidence collection with timestamps and GPS coordinates, and 99.5% system uptime standards — similar to what Singapore uses in their Electronic Road Pricing system.

There should also be a dedicated independent review board within the MMDA with qualified traffic commissioners, the lawmaker stressed.

“For the violators, they should be given electronic notice via their registered SMS number, a review period, and an online dispute portal that is user-friendly and easy to navigate. Dapat alam ng mga driver kung paano at saan pwedeng mag-apela (Drivers should know how and where to appeal),” she also said.

Regulations should also be clear to motorists and shouldn’t be changed too often. 

“Dapat hindi rin pabago-bago 'yung mga regulasyon na hindi pinapaalam sa ating mga kababayan (Regulations shouldn’t be changed without informing the public properly),” Poe said. 

“Kung magbago man ang isang no u-turn or one-way street, dapat may 15-day advance notice period bago simulan ang NCAP sa area (If they have to change a no u-turn slot or one-way street, there should be a 15-day advance notice period before NCAP is imposed in that particular area),” the lawmaker added.

Poe noted that automated traffic enforcement is widely studied in Europe, Australia, and the United States, thus, this limited implementation in the metro's major highways should serve as the pilot study for a data-driven rollout of NCAP to the rest of the country.

“Ultimately, what the NCAP should aim to do is to steer road behavior towards safe and responsible driving,” the senator reiterated.