No Contact Apprehension Policy only on major roads - SC

Metro Manila, Philippines - The Supreme Court (SC) has partially lifted the temporary restraining order on the No Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP) in major roads, its spokesperson said on Tuesday, May 20.

The NCAP is a traffic management plan in Metro Manila that identifies violators through security cameras instead of traffic enforcers physically flagging down motorists.

SC spokesperson Camille Ting said the court only granted the urgent motion of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) through the Office of the Solicitor General.

“It can only be implemented by the MMDA in major thoroughfares… especially C5 and EDSA,” Ting said in a press briefing. “It will not apply to the places that are covered by the LGU (local government unit) ordinances such as the local streets of the cities.”

The MMDA has earlier filed a motion to lift the stay order to ease traffic congestion. Its motion to the court addressed the concerns on penalties and contest mechanism.

“Kung may NCAP na, ‘yung violators hindi na natin kailangan parahin, magtalo, isyuhan basically ng ticket na habang ginagawa ‘yun ay nakakaabala pa sa traffic,” MMDA Chairman Romando Artes said in a chance interview.

[Translation: With the NCAP, we do not need to stop violators on the road, argue with them, and issue a ticket which disrupts traffic flow.]

The SC has yet to issue a copy of its decision.

The TRO has been in place since mid-2022.

NewsWatch Plus correspondent Lance Mejico contributed to this report.