NCAP 2.0 begins in Manila; Isko Moreno: ‘No more excuses’

MANILA, Philippines—Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso warned motorists, including government employees, that they would have “no more excuses” as the city on Monday, Oct. 5, began implementing its enhanced No Contact Apprehension Program (NCAP 2.0).

“Motorists who abuse the roads have no more excuses because today, we are beginning to implement the no-contact apprehension program,” Domagoso said during the flag-raising ceremony at Manila City Hall.

Domagoso said Manila had already implemented NCAP during his first term as mayor, from 2019 to 2022, and claimed it resulted in the apprehension of hundreds of thousands of motorists. “NCAP 2.0,” an enhanced version of the program, is now being implemented again in the city during his second term.

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The mayor said that under NCAP 2.0, the system, which uses upgraded high-resolution cameras to capture clearer images of traffic violations, would make it harder for motorists to evade apprehension.

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“You cannot argue with technology. We may argue with our enforcers, but with technology, you’re caught. In the end, there is no escape,” Domagoso said partly in Filipino.

READ: Authorities urged to ensure fair implementation of NCAP

Under Manila’s NCAP 2.0, however, a camera capture alone does not constitute a violation. Authorized NCAP personnel must first review and validate each recorded incident before a Notice of Violation is issued.

Fines and penalties will follow the Metro Manila Traffic Code of 2023, the city government said, while motorists who believe they were wrongly apprehended may file a protest online through the NCAP portal.

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Motorists may pay valid fines online or in person at the local government unit (LGU) where the violation occurred.

Domagoso also reminded motorists not to ignore notices sent to their homes, saying penalties would continue to accumulate if they failed to act on them.

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“I am reminding you, especially those of us in government, that no-contact apprehension is now being implemented in Manila. Never, ever ignore the notice that will arrive at your home because you will no longer be able to evade it, and the penalty will simply accumulate,” he said.

Domagoso said the system would apply regardless of a person’s social or economic status.

“But the good thing about this is that the poor are protected, the middle class is protected, and the rich are protected because under no-contact apprehension, everyone is treated equally. There will be no bullies, no one with connections. If you violate the rules, that’s it, you get a penalty,” he added.

He also said the system would limit opportunities for motorists to negotiate with traffic enforcers over violations.

“So be careful when driving because, little by little, we will achieve certainty in the enforcement of our rules. There will no longer be any enforcer you can plead with or make a deal with,” he said.

“At the same time, the enforcers, whoever they may be, most likely, if there are any [who engage in such practices], there will be nothing they can gain from it, so they will have to straighten up and straighten up,” he added.

He reiterated that government workers should also follow traffic rules and serve as examples to the public.

“But I will repeat, no-contact apprehension applies to everyone, regardless of their status. So those of us in government should serve as examples of compliance with traffic laws,” the mayor said.

NCAP returns in 5 Metro Manila cities

Manila’s rollout is part of the return of the camera-based traffic enforcement system in five Metro Manila cities: Manila, Muntinlupa, Parañaque, Quezon City and San Juan.

The five local government units resumed or began enforcing NCAP on Monday, months after the Supreme Court lifted its temporary restraining order against the system.

Valenzuela, which had also announced plans to bring back NCAP, deferred its implementation because of ongoing roadworks and changing traffic conditions.

READ: NCAP reimplentation starts Monday in 5 Metro Manila cities

The system uses closed-circuit television cameras, digital cameras and other technology to record vehicles suspected of violating traffic rules without requiring traffic enforcers to stop motorists on the road. The system reviews the recorded violations before issuing notices to registered vehicle owners.

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Motorists may check their violation records and pay fines through the online portals of participating LGUs. Those who believe they were wrongly apprehended may also contest the violations through designated online channels. /mcm