Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero is urging the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to ensure the Non-Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP) is implemented fairly, swiftly, and transparently "to address public concerns regarding its enforcement."
Escudero voiced apprehension over the policy’s resumption after the Supreme Court lifted its temporary restraining order, saying many motorists question the fairness of apprehensions and whether due process is upheld.
One major issue, Escudero said, is the slow delivery of Notices of Violation (NOVs). According to the MMDA, flagged violations must undergo a multi-step process: initial review, vehicle registration verification with the Land Transportation Office (LTO), and mailing of NOVs to the registered address via PhilPost.
Citing the information provided by MMDA, Escudero lamented, "This will take time, and as such there are potential problems that will come up."
It is only when the NOVs are received by the concerned motorists that they can start the appeals process if they wish to challenge the basis of the apprehensions.
"Lumalabas na matagal ang buong proseso at via snail mail pa ang pagpapadala ng NOVs. Maaaring 'pag dumating na ang NOV ay hindi na matandaan ng motorista ang umanong violation. Ang dapat dito ay araw lang ang bilang — mas mabilis mas maganda," he noted.
(It appears that the entire process is taking too long, and the NOVs are still being sent via snail mail. By the time the NOV arrives, the motorist might no longer remember the alleged violation. This should only take a matter of days — the faster, the better.)
He warned that delays could result in forgotten or lost NOVs, leading to penalties for unpaid fines. To speed things up, he urged MMDA to utilize email notifications where possible.
"The MMDA should also immediately address the problematic lane markings, traffic lights, and signages since these will be the basis for many of the violations and apprehensions," he added.
Escudero emphasized that if the policy is carried out fairly and transparently, the public will be more likely to understand its purpose, trust the system, and ultimately accept it as an essential component of traffic management.
