MMDA, LTO sign agreement for faster sharing of driver records

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced that it has inked a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to establish the LTO-MMDA System Interconnectivity Project.

MMDA Chairman Atty. Romando S. Artes with LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Edgar C. Galvante

As the name suggests, the project aims for a more seamless data-sharing system between the two government agencies. The MMDA is given access to LTO’s Land Transport Management System (LTMS) to check the records within the comprehensive database, allowing for a more efficient way of apprehending traffic violators.

The non-contact apprehension system (NCAP) will also be improved thanks to the new and fast data-sharing system. Considering that more areas are starting to implement the NCAP such as Quezon City (QC), fines for violators are expected to be imposed more easily, eliminating the need for face-to-face apprehensions.

Traffic enforcement is bolstered

Equipment such as CCTV and digital cameras with artificial intelligence technology are used to make NCAP possible. The new partnership will send a notice via email or SMS to violators, who will also eventually receive a printed copy for the complete details of the apprehension. LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Edgar C. Galvante encourages motorists to obey traffic rules, since even a single recorded traffic violation will make them ineligible for a ten-year license upon renewal.

“With this agreement, we can quickly pinpoint drivers committing multiple traffic violations resulting in the suspension of their licenses and their mandatory training on road safety and traffic rules. Drivers with violations will also be prevented from receiving the new ten-year licenses that are now being granted by the LTO,” said Galvante.

The NCAP is most likely the way to reduce erring motorists on the road moving forward, especially amid the challenges of the pandemic. It is being expanded by the LTO by partnering with various organizations including the NLEX Corporation. An automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) system is installed on the latter’s toll roads so it can share data more seamlessly with the agency.

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