TWG for NCAP deliberation must include commuters —group

Commuters must be represented in the technical working group (TWG) for the deliberation of the No-Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP),  a stakeholder group said Wednesday.

At a public briefing, National Center for Commuter Safety and Protection president Elvira Medina said their group must join the deliberation considering its experiences.

“Ang recommendation po namin sana ang mga commuter, kami ay maisama sa TWG na inaayos ng ating Secretary Jaime Bautista tungkol sa pagde-deliberate tungkol dyan dahil matagal na po kaming kasama ng transport at ang commuters po at marami rin po tayong experiences,” she said.

(We recommend that commuters should be included in the TWG organized by our Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Baustista on the deliberation of NCAP because we have been with transport groups and commuters, and  we have a lot of experiences, too.)

Medina suggested that local government units should have harmonized guidelines for NCAP.

According to her, there was a motorist who committed a violation at the border of two LGUs. As a result, he supposedly responded to two violations for one single act.

She suggested having a “clearing house” where alleged violations are being checked.

Medina also called for faster issuance of notification or subpoena to violators, and questioned the cost of penalty for violations under NCAP.

The Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order stopping the implementation of the NCAP, after transport groups filed a petition against local ordinances related to the policy in Manila, Quezon City, Valenzuela, Muntinlupa, and Parañaque.

Meanwhile, Medina expressed support for the move to increase jeepney fare to P13. —LBG, GMA News