Manila City adds traffic enforcers due to NCAP suspension

The city government of Manila has deployed more traffic enforces on the road to ensure that motorists follow the traffic rules.

NCAP out, more traffic enforcers in

This follows the Supreme Court’s issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the no-contact apprehension policy (NCAP). Stakeholders believe that the program still needs more clear-cut guidelines before it is re-implemented. For now, traffic enforcers will be manning the streets of Manila.

Despite the suspension, Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan believes that the program helped manage traffic. “Bagama’t naniniwala tayo sa maraming magandang nadulot ang NCAP sa daloy ng trapiko at pagsasa-ayos ng displina sa ating lungsod, and Pamahalaang Lungsod ay susunod sa alintuntunin ng Korte Suprema at handa sa pagpapahinto ng NCAP sa Maynila,” she said.

(Although we believe that the NCAP has brought a lot of good to the traffic flow and discipline in our city, the city government will follow the guidelines of the Supreme Court and is ready to stop the NCAP in Manila).

Quezon City is also suspending the NCAP

The city of Manila isn’t the only one to voice out the benefits of the NCAP as Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte also commended the program. She said that traffic violations in areas where NCAP was implemented have been reduced by as much as 93 percent. But with the TRO, the Quezon City local government is abiding by the ruling.

Reports suggest that road crashes have been reduced on account of the NCAP. Back in Manila City, the MMDA’s (Metropolitan Manila Development Authority) road safety MMARAS (Metro Manila Reporting and Analysis System) 2021 Annual Report stated that there were 1,033 injuries in 2021, which is 47 percent lower than in 2019.

The case will not likely be resolved until next year as hearings are slated on January 24, 2023. In the meantime, local government units (LGUs) have to rely on traffic enforcers to ensure that road rules are observed. A lawmaker also proposed that all fines collected through the NCAP should be returned to motorists.

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