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MMDA denies fake news about no-contact apprehension

Reports that traffic enforcers will stop apprehending motorists who violate traffic rules in Metro Manila are fake news.  This is according to Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), the agency in charge of managing vehicle flow along EDSA and other major roads in the metropolis. MMDA specifically denied reports that traffic enforcers would no longer flag down drivers for a traffic violation in place of the 'no contact apprehension' policy (NCAP) that uses closed circuit television cameras (CCTVs) in catching traffic violators.

Acting MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia described the reports circulating online as erroneous, while calling on the motoring public to rely on official MMDA social media accounts on Facebook and Twitter.
“It’s fake news. We deny such reports. It is not true there’s no more ground apprehension,” Garcia said in a press briefing at MMDA main office in Makati City.
Earlier reports that propagated online stated that the “no contact” policy would be enforced starting March 2018 and that no MMDA traffic enforcer will flag down driver for any traffic violation on the road.  It also stated that car registered owners will be informed of their violation via post mail and will be given only five days to contest the violation.
Garcia denied such reports by clarified that NCAP, under the leadership of MMDA Chairman Danilo Lim, is now being strictly implemented. Among the major roads covered by CCTV cameras are EDSA, Commonwealth Avenue, C5 Road, Diosdado Macapagal Avenue, Marcos Highway and Roxas Boulevard.
He said aside from being a tool in catching erring motorists, NCAP lessens opportunities for corruption, bribery and even confrontation between the apprehended motorist and the traffic enforcer.
“We want to remind the drivers that there is an eye in the sky monitoring you. They cannot just violate traffic rules even if they do not see any traffic enforcer on the road,” said Garcia.
Metrobase’s data show that NCAP recorded more than 100,000 traffic violations in December 2017 to February 28, 2018. Some traffic enforcers are also equipped with body cameras and handheld cameras that take video clips of motorists committing moving violations.    
Aside from CCTVs, the “no contact” policy utilizes digital cameras and/or handy cameras in apprehending motorists violating a traffic rule.
Under the policy, motorists caught violating a traffic rule receives summon, containing the screen grab of the violation, vehicle’s plate number and other details.
Motorists are given seven days to contest the violation with the MMDA’s traffic adjudication board or pay the fine.
MMDA said there are now 300 CCTV cameras installed in major thoroughfares monitored by a team of Metrobase personnel.

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