NCAP returns as Supreme Court lifts 2022 restraining order

The Supreme Court has officially lifted the temporary restraining order (TRO) it issued in 2022 against the implementation of the original No Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP), paving the way for its continued enforcement under the current Metro Manila traffic framework.

In a decision penned by Associate Justice Rodil V. Zalameda, the Supreme Court En Banc dismissed the consolidated petitions questioning the legality of the original NCAP ordinances after ruling that the issues had become moot and academic.

According to the Court, the ordinances being challenged—implemented by the cities of Manila, Quezon City, Valenzuela, Parañaque, and Muntinlupa under MMDA Resolution No. 16-01—have already been replaced by the Metro Manila Traffic Code of 2023 (MMTC 2023), which established a new and uniform traffic enforcement framework across Metro Manila.

Since the petitions only challenged the old ordinances and not the MMTC 2023, the Court said ruling on their constitutionality would no longer have any legal or practical effect.

The petitions were also dismissed due to procedural issues, including lack of legal standing, failure to exhaust administrative remedies, violation of the hierarchy of courts, and forum shopping.

Does this mean NCAP is back?

Yes—but with an important distinction.

The Supreme Court did not rule that NCAP is constitutional. Instead, it lifted the TRO because the original ordinances covered by the restraining order have already been superseded by the MMTC 2023.

This means the MMDA’s NCAP operations are no longer covered by the 2022 TRO and may continue under the 2023 rules.

However, for local government units (LGUs), it remains unclear which cities have already resumed their own NCAP implementation under the updated Metro Manila Traffic Code. Future legal challenges against the MMTC 2023 or its implementing rules may still be filed if an actual controversy arises.

Areas covered by MMDA’s NCAP

The MMDA has identified the following roads and intersections where NCAP cameras are installed and operational.

EDSA

Guadalupe Footbridge
Guadalupe Bridge
Boni MRT (Northbound & Southbound)
Reliance Footbridge
Shaw Boulevard
Megamall
Guadix
Ortigas (Ilalim)
White Plains
Camp Aguinaldo Gate 3
VV Soliven
Aurora
Cubao Monte de Piedad
Q-Mart
Kamuning
Cinderella
Quezon Avenue
North Avenue MRT Station (Southbound)
SM North / West Avenue Footbridge
Bansalangin Footbridge
Congressional Footbridge
Kaingin Road Footbridge
Oliveros Footbridge
Tirona (PPI)
Gen. Malvar Footbridge
Gen. Tino Footbridge
MCU Footbridge
Buendia Flyover (Shell)
Buendia Ilalim (Northbound)
Magallanes Interchange
Tramo Flyover
FB Harrison Footbridge
Roxas Boulevard

NAIA / Pasay

Terminal 3 Rotonda
Andrews Avenue – Tramo
Airport Road – Domestic Rotonda
Terminal 4 – Domestic Road Footbridge
MIA – Domestic (Park N Fly)

Roxas Boulevard

HK Plaza (Libertad)
Macapagal – HK Plaza
Buendia
Quirino
Kalaw
P. Burgos

Manila

P. Burgos – Maria Orosa
Lagusnilad Underpass
Liwasang Bonifacio
R10 – Moriones
Nagtahan Ilalim
Recto – Mendiola
España – Morayta Footbridge
España – Lacson
España (R. Magsaysay High School)
Welcome Rotonda

Quezon City

E. Rodriguez – Banawe
E. Rodriguez – Araneta
Quezon Avenue – Sto. Domingo Footbridge
Quezon Avenue – Araneta Avenue
Quezon Avenue – Scout Chuatoco Footbridge
Quezon Avenue – Roosevelt
Quezon Avenue – Roces Footbridge
Quezon Avenue – Timog Avenue Footbridge
Quezon Avenue – Sgt. Esguerra Footbridge
Elliptical Road – Visayas Avenue (PTV-4)
QC Circle – North Avenue
Elliptical Road – Quezon Avenue
QC Circle – East Avenue
Elliptical Road – Kalayaan Avenue
Elliptical Road – Maharlika
QC Circle – Commonwealth

Commonwealth Avenue

Technohub Footbridge
Microtel Footbridge
Tandang Sora Footbridge
Toyota
Ever
St. Peter Footbridge
Batasan 1
Litex

C5

Kalayaan Avenue
Lanuza Footbridge
J. Vargas Footbridge
Ortigas Avenue
Greenmeadows
Eastwood
Libis

Katipunan Avenue
Boni Serrano
P. Tuazon Footbridge
Aurora Boulevard
University Avenue Footbridge
Miriam Footbridge
Magsaysay Footbridge

Other areas

C3 – Bonifacio Footbridge
Ortigas – Connecticut
Aurora Boulevard – Araneta
Mindanao Avenue – Congressional
Marcos Highway – SM
Marcos Highway – Amang Rodriguez
Marcos Highway – F. Mariano
Marcos Highway – Sta. Lucia

Motorists are advised to follow speed limits, lane markings, traffic signs, and other road regulations, as violations in these areas may be detected through the MMDA’s No Contact Apprehension Policy.