Around 200 people apprehended over littering under NCAP in past 3 months — MMDA

Around 200 people have been apprehended for littering under the No Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP) in the past three months, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) general manager Nicolas Torre III said on Wednesday.

“Naka-hundreds na rin kami, baka naka-200 na rin kami,” Torre said at Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum when asked about his agency’s campaign against littering through the NCAP, which uses CCTV to catch violators.

Violators have a choice, they may pay a fine worth P500 or perform community service in their respective barangays.

Torre said failure to settle the tickets could lead to the filing of a case and the issuance of a warrant of arrest.

“Marami tayong mga kababayan na kapag lalabas ng airport. Uy, may warrant to arrest ka ha. Paano nagka-warrant to arrest? P2,000 lang piyansa. Pero yan, environmental violation kasi hindi mo binayaran, yung violation yung ticket mo na dapat P500 lang ang bayad. So, nakakaabala yan,” he said.

(We have many countrymen who, when leaving the airport, have a warrant to arrest you. How did you get a warrant to arrest? Only P2,000 bail. But that's an environmental violation because you didn't pay, the violation is your ticket that should have only been paid for P500. So, that's annoying.)

According to Torre, there is a proposal to the Metro Manila Council (MMC) to have anti-littering police in the National Capital Region.

He also pointed out that addressing flooding is not only a matter of building infrastructure but also of improving public discipline in disposing of waste.

Torre also noted that grease and small plastic materials are among concerns that can end up clogging pumping stations and drainage systems. — BAP, GMA News