SC Gives MMDA the Green Light to Use No Contact Apprehension on Major Roads

The Supreme Court has made a key decision affecting traffic enforcement in Metro Manila. As of now, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is allowed to use the No Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP) again, but only on major roads like EDSA and C5. This partial lifting of the temporary restraining order (TRO) took effect immediately after the announcement.

The MMDA had earlier submitted an urgent appeal through the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), asking the Supreme Court to allow them to resume the use of NCAP in certain areas. Their main goal was to make the streets safer and more orderly by relying on tech-based enforcement.

The NCAP system works by using traffic cameras and surveillance tools to catch violations without stopping vehicles. Instead of traditional checkpoints or on-the-spot tickets, traffic violators are identified using recorded footage.

Although the system aims to improve traffic flow and reduce confrontation, it hasn’t been without controversy. In 2022, the policy faced strong criticism from transport groups and was temporarily halted by the Supreme Court. One of the biggest concerns was that it penalized vehicle owners rather than the actual drivers.

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) also raised questions about its fairness and asked local governments to suspend the policy. Several cities, including Quezon City, Manila, Valenzuela, Muntinlupa, and Parañaque, were affected by the debate.

Despite the backlash, the OSG stood by the program. They argued that using public roads isn’t a basic right but a regulated privilege, and the government has the authority to enforce rules that help maintain safety and order.

This latest development allows the MMDA to bring back NCAP, at least in a limited scope, while the rest of the legal issues continue to be resolved. For now, motorists using EDSA and C5 should be more cautious, as contactless enforcement is officially back in action in those areas.