THE Supreme Court (SC) has partially lifted the Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) it issued against the No Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP) being implemented by several local government units in Metro Manila.
The lifting of the TRO was confirmed by Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra.
The SC issued an order prohibiting apprehensions of traffic violators through the NCAP program on August 30, 2022 following the filing of several petitions questioning its constitutionality.
Among the petitioners were transport groups Kapit, Pasang Masda, Altodap, and the Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations.
The cities that implemented the NCAP included Manila, Quezon City, Valenzuela, Muntinlupa, and ParaƱaque.
The order also covered the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), which provide motorist information to all local government units, cities, and municipalities enforcing NCAP programs and ordinances.
On May 16, the MMDA filed an urgent motion before the SC seeking the lifting of the TRO, raising the need for the program in the bid to curtail heavier traffic on EDSA caused by flagging down traffic violators especially amid the upcoming rehabilitation of the major thoroughfare.
The major EDSA rehabilitation which is expected to cause heavy traffic will begin by the middle of June, according to transportation secretary Vince Dizon. (TPM/SunStar Philippines)