LTO asks LGUs: Suspend and review NCAP first

The leadership of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) is seeking the suspension of the no-contact apprehension policy (NCAP) being implemented by various local government units (LGU).

In a statement, LTO Chief Teofilo Guadiz III said that there is a need to fine-tune the NCAP guidelines to ensure a more effective implementation, which will contribute in guaranteeing smoother traffic flow in Metro Manila.

Guadiz noted that it is the LGUs that create their respective NCAP guidelines and the LTO is only helping them and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) in the implementation by sending an alert about the vehicle in violation.

Guadiz, who also serves as the Department of Transportation Assistant Secretary, urged LGUs consider reviewing the aforementioned traffic policy discussed with the agency the guidelines, as well as the complaints of public utility vehicle operators who are forced to pay the fines for traffic violations committed by their drivers.

“Ito po ay pinag-aaralan namin ngayon. Tila po may kakulangan sa policy na maaaring kailangang repasuhin upang ang mismong driver o nagmamaneho ng sasakyan ang dapat na managot sa paglabag. We will look into ways na ang dapat managot ay ang driver (We are studying this now. It seems that there is a deficiency in the policy that may need to be reviewed so that the driver of the vehicle should be responsible for the violation. We will look into ways that the one who should be held liable is the driver),” he added.

Meanwhile, the MMDA said that it “respects the autonomy of all LGUs in crafting and implementing their own traffic regulations.”

“The Authority welcomes the call for legislative investigation on its NCAP which have been in place since 2016 and will definitely cooperate with other branches of government and agencies to ensure a more efficient and orderly implementation of the said policy,” the MMDA said in a separate statement.

Photos from Ruben D. Manahan IV

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