MMDA to deploy more personnel amid TRO vs. NCAP

More traffic enforcers will be deployed in areas covered by the No Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP) following the Supreme Court's issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) against its implementation, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said on Wednesday.

At a press conference, MMDA spokesperson Crisanto Saruca Jr. said these additional personnel will enforce traffic management.

“Lahat po ng merong CCTVs ang MMDA na nabanggit ko kanina, yung EDSA, C5, Commonwealth, Quezon Avenue, Roxas Boulevard, at Macapagal Boulevard. Dati po merong pinapatupad na NCAP diyan so diyan po tayo magdagdag ng mga traffic enforcer para mapatupad yung ating traffic management,” Saruca  said.

(The deployment will cover all areas with MMDA CCTVs like EDSA, C5, Commonwealth, Quezon Avenue, Roxas Boulevard, and Macapagal Boulevard. We will increase the number of traffic enforcers in areas where NCAP was being implemented to enforce our traffic management.)

Saruca said the MMDA will consult with the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) if they can intervene with the petition against NCAP pending a final resolution from the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court issued the TRO after several transport groups filed a petition against local ordinances related to the NCAP in Manila, Quezon City, Valenzuela, Muntinlupa, and Parañaque.

Saruca also called on motorists to maintain discipline in following traffic rules.

Around 107,000 violations were logged by the NCAP from January to August 24, 2022, according to Saruca.

Most of the violations involved the disregard of traffic signs and number coding, as well as loading and unloading zones.

Muntinlupa, Parañaque

In a statement, Muntinlupa City Mayor Ruffy Biazon said that they would abide by the TRO.

“Supreme Court decisions and orders deserve nothing but respect and obedience, although in Muntinlupa, we had already restrained ourselves even before the controversy was raised. Ours is SRO: Self-Restraining Order. Nevertheless, we will abide by the SC ruling,” Biazon said in Sandra Aguinaldo’s report on “24 Oras.”

The Muntinlupa City Council in October 2021 passed Ordinance 2021-280 implementing the NCAP in the city and for other purposes.

Meanwhile, Parañaque City Administrator Voltaire dela Cruz said they will also respect the decision of the high court.

Dela Cruz, however, said that NCAP has had good results.

“Napakaganda po ng pag-implement ng ating NCAP dahil mayroon po tayong 96% compliance sa ating mga traffic rules and regulations. At nagkaroon po ng disiplina sa buong Parañaque dahil alam po nila na kapag pumasok sila sa Parañaque City ay mayroon tayong NCAP,” he said.

(The implementation of our NCAP was very good because we have 96% compliance with our traffic rules and regulations. And there was discipline throughout Parañaque because they know that when they enter the city we have NCAP.) — with Mel Matthew Doctor/RSJ/BM, GMA News