LTO advocates for more dialogue and a thorough review of NCAP.

MANILA: Before the complete introduction of NCAP, LTO pushes for greater discussion and review of the rule. 

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) reiterates that the No Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP), which is currently in effect in several cities throughout the National Capital Region (NCR), should be temporarily suspended.

According to the Chief Atty. of the LTO Teofilo Guadix III, for the NCAP to properly serve the driving public's interests, clear-cut criteria for the NCAP must first be developed, completed, and tested.

He urged the mayors of the five cities, namely the City of Manila, Quezon City, Paranaque City, Valenzuela City, and Muntinlupa City, that are currently implementing NCAP to sit down with the Agency and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and jointly develop a set of guidelines.

The guidelines would benefit both the cities and agencies enforcing the policy and the driving public. If clear rules are created, other cities that might want to develop their own NCAP could possibly follow suit.

The payment of fines, in which the registered owners of used public and private cars are asked to pay for the penalties, rather than the new owners of the vehicles, is one of the NCAP's most contentious provisions. As a result, there is a lot more uncertainty than clarity because there are still no set regulations.

Four transportation organizations petitioned the Supreme Court, arguing that the NCAP is unlawful because it violates the Constitution and should therefore be suspended by the High Tribunal. The petition submitted by the transport associations names the LTO as a respondent as well.

The petition, according to Guadiz, expresses the LTO's view that the policy should be thoroughly reviewed before implementation and that any potential gaps should be filled to avoid lengthy legal disputes, complexities, and other difficulties that will lead to confusion rather than convenience.

“There are still a lot of issues that need to be resolved, particularly those raised by the public, which are totally valid. The petition filed by the four transport groups is a clear indication that further review of the policy is necessitated. The presence of a uniform…and transparent guidelines is very important for the NCAP to work because it will be the public who will suffer if it doesn’t,” according to the LTO Chief.

The LTO Chief added that digitalizing the traffic management system is necessary, but all rules governing its application must first be established and perfected, failing which it will merely be a waste of taxpayers' money.

Photo from Land Transportation Office

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