Groups hold caravan vs NCAP

MANILA, Philippines — A coalition of motorist groups yesterday held a caravan in Quezon City calling for a review of the controversial no-contact apprehension policy or NCAP by several local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila. 

The Stop NCAP coalition said the traffic scheme is an added burden for motorists. 

One of the groups, the Kapatiran sa Dalawang Gulong (Kagulong), said the protest aims to “take a stand for the so-called heroes of the roads.” 

“We are reiterating our appeal to LGUs to stop the NCAP to make way for an investigation of the policy,” Kagulong’s statement read. 

“Irregularities such as excessive fines, defective traffic lights, unclear traffic markings and a better adjudication process should be fixed,” the group added. 

The group said the NCAP should be implemented by the national government so the “system and policies are uniform.” 

Six local governments in Metro Manila are enforcing the NCAP: Caloocan, Manila, Parañaque, Quezon City, San Juan and Valenzuela. 

While members of the coalition were supposedly not allowed to enter the Quezon Memorial Circle, they still conducted a rally in the area yesterday. 

Meanwhile, citing violation of traffic rules as one of the leading causes of road accidents, a group of doctors has expressed support for the NCAP.

The physicians, mostly surgeons and trauma specialists, said road injuries are among the top 10 causes of mortality not only in the Philippines but globally. – Rhodina Villanueva