MMDA considering two-day coding scheme

THE METROPOLITAN Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is considering the possibility of imposing a two-day number coding scheme in efforts to ease traffic congestion, its chairman said on Tuesday, June 27.

MMDA Chairman Danilo D. Lim told lawmakers of their plans at yesterday’s hearing on road safety by the House committee on transportation, chaired by Catanduanes Rep. Cesar V. Sarmiento.

“Pinag-iisipan natin with the support of the Metro Manila Council, mga mayors natin, kung pwedeng i- modify pa ’yung number coding scheme. Sa ngayon kasi hindi mo pwedeng gamitin yung sasakyan mo isang araw sa loob ng isang linggo. Siguro pwede namang kaunting sakripisyo pa para sa lahat. Baka pwedeng gawing two days every week ang hindi paggamit ng sasakyan ( We are thinking that, with the support of the Metro Manila Council, our mayors, if we can modify the number coding scheme. Currently, you can’t use your car for one day in a given week. I think a little more sacrifice is needed. Perhaps this can be made two days every week, you’re not using your car),” Mr. Lim told the committee.

He added, “There are so many vehicles in Metro Manila.[There are] 2.5 million to 2.6 million registered vehicles here in Metro Manila. I think that’s 30% of all vehicles registered all over the country.”

Mr. Lim also said Metro Manila accounts for less than 5% of the total national road network in the country. “So we have more than 30% vehicles converging here in less than 5% [ national road network]. So the problem is the volume, it needs to be reduced,” he said.

A retired general, Mr. Lim was appointed MMDA chairman last month. He also told the committee: “Napakahirap gumawa ng solusyon kung padami ng padami ang sasakyan at kalsada hindi nadadagdagan. So ang solusyon dito infrastructure ( It’s hard to come up with a solution if there are more and more vehicles and no additional roads. So the solution is infrastructure).”

He added, “Usually accidents happen because of reckless drivers and lack of discipline. So back to basics, we have to educate drivers. Second, the road conditions, some accidents happen because of the conditions of the road. Third, I think, the support (for) the traffic enforcers.”

“Marami tayong traffic enforcers na P6,000 lang isang buwan, mababa na nga, nadedelay pa ( We have a lot of traffic enforcers who only earn P6,000 a month. This pay is way too small, and it’s even delayed),” Mr. Lim noted further.

He said his agency only has a budget for permanent positions, while salaries of auxiliary traffic aides are being sourced from the Road Board, among others.

“Marami tayong kasama d’yan na last time na sumweldo ay nung February pa. Kaya nawawalan tayo ng traffic enforcer sa EDSA, for example, kasi what do you expect, hindi naman magtatrabaho ’yan kung walang maiuuwi sa pamilya nila (We have colleagues there who were last paid their salaries in February yet. That is why we are losing traffic enforcers in EDSA, for example, because what do you expect? They will not work if they don’t have something to bring home to their families),” said Mr. Lim.

“These are some of the things that aggravate our situation (on) traffic and accidents,” he said.