The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Friday has filed an urgent motion before the Supreme Court to seek that the temporary restraining order against the no contact apprehension policy (NCAP) be lifted.
The NCAP is a policy that uses closed-circuit television, digital cameras and/or other gadgets or technology to capture videos and images to apprehend vehicles violating traffic laws.
According to a report of Super Radyo dzBB’s Christian Maño, MMDA chairperson Romando Artes said the motion was filed through the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG).
Artes said the policy is needed to curtail heavier traffic on EDSA caused by flagging down violators amid the rehabilitation of the major thoroughfare.
If the high court does not grant the appeal, Artes said the MMDA is studying the possibility of enforcing NCAP on buses, according to the radio report.
In August 2022, the Supreme Court issued the TRO against NCAP being implemented by some local government units in Metro Manila.
This was after several transport groups filed a petition against local ordinances related to the NCAP in Manila, Quezon City, Valenzuela, Muntinlupa, and Parañaque.
Before the issuance of the TRO, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in August 2022 called on local government units (LGUs) to suspend and review their NCAP.
The LTO said one of the contested aspects of the NCAP involves the payment of fines in which the registered owners, not the drivers, of public and private vehicles are the ones who are asked to pay for the penalties.
Transport groups also described the policy as unconstitutional. — Joviland Rita/BAP, GMA Integrated News
