Over 1,100 violators reported on first day of NCAP’s re-implementation
Metro Manila, Philippines - Over 1,110 violators were reported on the first day of the re-implementation of the No-Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP) on Monday, May 26, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said.
On Tuesday, May 27, the MMDA public information office said this is less than half of the 3,000 violations monitored on the same date in 2024, but they were not penalized due to the temporary restraining order against the policy.
The NCAP took effect again on Monday after three years, following a Supreme Court decision granting MMDA’s urgent motion to lift the stay order in areas under its jurisdiction.
READ: Everything you need to know on NCAP
In a press briefing on Monday, MMDA chairman Don Artes emphasized that motorists caught by security cameras still undergo a manual review.
“Hindi common na na-encode sa system na ganito automatic huhulihin. In fact marami ako nakita na rejections, in-invalidate ‘yung review ng AI,” he said, noting that the MMDA will not issue tickets on some cases like unclear markings and signages.
[Translation: It's not common for something encoded in the system like this to be automatically flagged. In fact, I've seen many rejections where the AI review was invalidated.]
Artes said the agency is working with telecommunication companies on a possible text violation notice instead of sending it through mail.
The MMDA chief, meanwhile, dismissed critics saying the policy is just another money-making scheme.
“Wala po kami sa business ng panghuhuli. Wala po kaming third party provider na kailangan kumita…Sarili po namin itong NCAP system namin, sarili po namin facility. Gobyerno po or taxpayer ang paggawa niyan, ang pondo niyan…Ang panghuhuli po namin ay para sa disiplina ng ating mga kababayan,” he said.
[Translation: We are not in the business of catching (violators). We do not have a third-party provider that needs to profit... This NCAP system is our own, it's our own facility. It was created and funded by the government or taxpayers... Our enforcement is for the discipline of our fellow citizens.]
