With the Supreme Court junking all the petitions against the Non-Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP), the only consolation that the government could assure of is its fair and accurate implementation.

But the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), the main proponent of the program, provided even more by making it easier for motorists to access the checking of violation and even the payment system.

In partnership with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), MMDA chairman Don Artes said the NCAP platform is now also available at the eGovPH Super App.

He said all the car owners would do is to download the eGovPH Super App and presto, the NCAP Online Violation and Payment System are available for easy access and transaction.

“The integration supports the national government's efforts to make public services more accessible through digital innovation,” Artes said during the launching of the program.

Previously, the NCAP is accessible through a separate online platform MayHuliKa, a website that will give motorists an access to any information relating to traffic violations captured by artificial intelligence-run closed circuit television (CCTV).

The web-based platform enables vehicle owners to check for traffic violations and provide information on the payment process by entering not only the license plate or conduction sticker number but also the motor vehicle (MV) file number.

The program was launched in June last year.

Legal issues

In August 2022, the Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order based on the petition of several transport groups which questioned its implementation in Manila, Quezon City, Valenzuela City, Muntinlupa City, and Parañaque City.

In questioning the legality of NCAP, transport groups raised the following arguments:

1. That the ordinances of the local government units that legalized the NCAP implementation are violation of the existing statutes, which do not establish, authorize and even mention any no-contact apprehension;

2. That since the wordings of the Republic Act 4136 (Land Transportation and Traffic Code) is clear, any inclusion that include NCAP, is void;

3. That the NCAP implementation violates due process;

4. That the NCAP provisions imposes unreasonable conditions that include non-renewal of the vehicle registration until such time that the fines are settled;

The MMDA launched the MayHuliKa in June last year, or a month after the Supreme Court lifted the TRO.

And on Thursday, June 9, the High Court junked the petition, arguing that the legal challenges were rendered moot by recent regulatory shifts.

The ruling specifically cited the adoption of a unified traffic code across the metropolis as the primary reason the original disputes no longer required judicial intervention.

More accessible

Under the eGovPH Super App, Artes said motorists will be provided with a more secure, accessible, and centralized platform for checking and managing traffic violations

For his part, DICT Secretary Henry Aguda said the program is aligned with the President's vision of ensuring that no Filipino is left behind in the country's digital transformation.

"Digital services should be faster, more affordable, and more secure," he said.

“Through the integration, motorists can now conveniently verify NCAP apprehension records, monitor details, check payment status, and access related services anytime and anywhere,” Aguda added.

More users

Artes noted that the MMDA's MayHuliKa website has already recorded more than 15 million site visits, over 11 million traffic violations checked, and more than 2.7 million unique users.

He said the figure reflect the growing number of Filipinos embracing digital government services because of their accessibility and convenience.

On the other hand, the eGovPH Super App has already reached 60 million downloads, 55 million verified users, and 955 million transactions.

Both Artes and Aguda assured the public that all transactions made through the eGovPH Super App are protected by 24/7 cybersecurity monitoring.

They said encrypted data transmission to safeguard users' personal information and ensure compliance with data privacy standards.