MMDA launches SMS, email notifications for NCAP violations

Motorists will now receive real-time short message service (SMS) and email notifications if they committed violations under the No Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP), the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said Monday.

"A key feature of this initiative is that vehicle owners will receive notification via SMS even without an internet connection so that immediate action may be taken as soon as they are notified and for their convenience," MMDA chairperson Romando Artes was quoted in a statement as saying during the launch.

The MMDA noted that motorists will receive the notification through SMS and email when the violation has been verified.

For SMS, the sender is “MMDA_NCAP” and it does not use a cell phone number, the MMDA said. On the other hand, the official sender in email is “no-reply@mmda.gov.ph”. 

“The official MMDA text and email notifications do not include any payment links to prevent scams. Both the SMS and email notifications are sent from no-reply senders,” the MMDA said.

According to the MMDA, the vehicle owners' contact numbers and email addresses come from the records registered under the Land Transportation Office ‘s Land Transportation Management System.

Artes urged the vehicle owners to update their records in the LTO LTMS to ensure they receive notifications. 

As the mayhulika.mmda.gov.ph website shows only traffic violations under NCAP, the MMDA noted that a result of “No Record Found” status does not necessarily indicate the absence of traffic violations.

Meanwhile, Artes reminded the public to be cautious of any suspicious messages containing links and check the sender’s information to avoid potential scams.

The real-time SMS and email notifications for the violations under NCAP was done in partnership with a telecommunications company and the LTO, according to the MMDA.

In June, the MMDA also launched “May Huli Ka 2.0,” a web-based platform that enables vehicle owners to conveniently check for traffic violations.

NCAP is a policy that uses closed-circuit television, digital cameras and/or other gadgets or technology to capture videos and images to apprehend vehicles violating traffic laws, instead of traffic enforcers on the ground.

Under the policy, violators can pay fines later online or at the MMDA office. They can also contest their supposed violations caught under NCAP. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News