By Manila Bulletin
Published Jul 12, 2025 12:05 am
Motorists in Metro Manila can now expect to receive an SMS or an email after a traffic violation that’s committed in places monitored by AI-enabled cameras. Early this week, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) launched this significant update to its No-Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP) – an SMS and email notification system that alerts violators in near real time.
Road safety will now be strengthened by sensors, smart systems, and swift enforcement. Through the use of artificial intelligence-capable cameras installed along Metro Manila’s busiest roads, the system captures traffic violations and transmits the data to the MMDA’s operations center. There, a team of trained personnel manually verifies each incident before a notification is sent to the registered owner of the vehicle. Within minutes, motorists receive a text message and an email with the unmistakable subject: “May Huli Ka!”
This update is more than just a technological tweak. It reflects a larger vision: to make road safety enforcement more efficient, transparent, and timely. MMDA Chairperson Don Artes committed to come up with more technological enhancements for NCAP such as providing a digital platform to contest the violation and to view the evidence.
This system—developed in partnership with telecommunications providers— will also offer convenience to motorists. Even without mobile data, violators will be informed, thanks to SMS alerts.
However, there are limits. Only violations captured by AI-equipped cameras are covered. Incidents recorded through manual enforcement or older equipment will not trigger notifications. With the expected reduction of traffic violations, this system should be adopted across the country, especially in the urban areas.
This shift toward digitized, AI-powered enforcement is part of a broader transformation in traffic management across the capital. The MMDA recently began replacing traditional countdown signal lights with sensor-based and adaptive signaling systems that respond to real-time traffic volume. In 96 intersections across the city, countdown timers have been removed, and AI-driven systems are gradually taking their place. These smart traffic lights adjust their timing based on actual road conditions, especially at night, reducing driver confusion and risky last-minute decisions.
Looking ahead, the MMDA aims to deploy AI-powered video detectors capable of reading vehicle speed, direction, and license plate numbers—tools that can drastically reduce crash risks, particularly at intersections.
These technological upgrades are not isolated innovations. They align with the Metro Manila Road Safety Action Plan (MMRSAP) 2024–2028, a multi-agency initiative launched to address the alarming frequency of road crashes in the region. With nearly 93,000 traffic incidents annually and hundreds of lives lost each year, the MMRSAP sets a bold target: a 35 percent reduction in road fatalities by 2028. It focuses on five pillars—safer roads, safer vehicles, safer road users, better post-crash responses, and stronger road safety governance.
As traffic systems modernize, so must the culture of road use. Reckless driving, distracted behavior, and “kamote” mindsets are not easily fixed by machines alone. Technology must be paired with education and enforcement—and most of all, accountability. Each violation avoided, each life saved, is a step toward a safer future.
The use of AI to enforce road rules is a reminder that road safety is not just the job of the government, but a shared responsibility.
