Traffic enforcers will still flag down violators in Metro Manila because the Non-Contact Apprehension Program is not yet in full force, contrary to a misleading post on social media.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority on Wednesday warned the public against disinformation with a Facebook post saying “The No Contact Policy is now in full force. This means that no MMDA traffic enforcer will flag down any driver for any traffic violation on the road but instead, will monitor violations onscreen via the CCTV camera.”
“The misinformation is being spread about the MMDA’s reminders on the No Contact Apprehension Policy. MMDA traffic enforcers will continue to look for motorists who violate traffic laws,” the agency said in an advisory yesterday.
“Don’t just believe the messages or posts you receive on social media. It is good to first find out the source of the information or verify the data that is read or received from legitimate sources,” it added.
The MMDA urged the public, especially motorists, to call the agency’s Hotline 136 or send a message to the MMDA official page on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram with any concerns about the policy.
The agency also asked the people to be more responsible in sharing posts on social media, especially on Facebook where millions of Filipinos are users.
Spreading lies would only cause panic among the people and would not help the efforts being done by government agencies, local government units, and other stakeholders, the MMDA said.
Spreading false information carries the penalty of imprisonment from six months and one day to six years, it warned.
On Aug. 18, MMDA chairman Carlo Antonio Dimayuga expressed his support for the NCAP being enforced by local government units in the National Capital Region.
In a one-page “statement of solidarity”, Dimayuga said his agency “fully supports NCAP which is being implemented by some Metro Manila Local Government Units (LGUs) and stands in solidarity with them in this respect.”
He cited empirical evidence clearly showing that the MMDA’s own version of the policy was and continues to be an effective force multiplier to its traffic enforcers on the ground and has, in fact, raised public awareness of and compliance with the existing traffic and transports laws, rules and regulations.
“There is no doubt that the same experience is true for the Metro Manila LGUs,” Dimayuga said.
Last week, some Metro Manila mayors insisted on carrying out the NCAP despite mounting opposition from motorists and transport groups, some of which have filed a petition before the Supreme Court to challenge the policy.
“We, the undersigned local chief executives, have joined together on a common stance to continue the implementation of NCAP within our respective territorial jurisdictions,” the mayors said in a joint statement.
They refuted that the system denies due process to motorists since local governments have their traffic adjudication boards where they can contest their violations.
The statement was signed by Valenzuela City Mayor Wes Gatchalian, Parañaque City Mayor Eric Olivarez, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna, and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora.
But on Tuesday, Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said LGUs should refund the traffic fines paid by motorists if the NCAP is found to be unconstitutional
Barbers expressed belief that the NCAP is illegal because motorists are slapped with hefty fines even for minor traffic violations.
“If the policy is proven unlawful, the LGUs must refund the traffic fines collected from motorists,” he said. “I received a lot of letters and e-mails from those who were fined, saying that the amount is excessive.”
Barbers clarified that he is not against NCAP, but he believes there should be a unified no-contact apprehension program for the entire country. He said the issues surrounding the NCAP must be resolved first.
Quezon City 4th District Rep. Marvin Rillo has filed a resolution asking the House committees on local government, Metro Manila development, and transportation to probe the implementation of the NCAP.
The MMDA hit back at the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) for calling on the agency to suspend its NCAP.
“They are barking at the wrong tree,” the MMDA said in a Facebook post.
“The NCAP is based on Resolution No. 16-01, which took effect in 2016,” the MMDA said, adding that the fines imposed by the agency are also lower compared to those collected by LGUs.
“Compared to the LGUs in Metro Manila which implement the policy, the MMDA’s NCAP is in-house. The closed-circuit television system used by the MMDA is owned by the agency. There are no third party service providers operating these CCTVs,” the statement read.
