NCR mayors OK return of number coding scheme
AMID the expected increase in the volume of vehicles in the metropolis once face-to-face classes resume in some schools this month, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced the reimplementation of the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP) or number coding scheme from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on weekdays except holidays.
MMDA Acting Chairman Engr. Carlo Dimayuga said that was agreed upon by the Metro Manila Council (MMC), composed of the Metro Manila mayors, in a meeting through MMDA Resolution No. 22-14 Series of 2022.
Currently, the scheme is implemented from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Under the scheme, vehicles with license plates ending in 1 and 2 are prohibited on Monday, 3 and 4 on Tuesday, 5 and 6 on Wednesday, 7 and 8 on Thursday, 9 and 0 on Friday during the coding hours.
Dimayuga said the reimplementation of the number coding scheme will reduce traffic volume by 20 percent during the morning and afternoon/ evening peak hours.
Before the Covid-19 pandemic, the average number of vehicles plying Edsa daily was at 405,000. Based on the latest vehicle volume count conducted by the MMDA Traffic Engineering Center on August 4, approximately 387,000 vehicles traversed Edsa. The volume is expected to balloon to 436,000 or higher than the prepandemic level.
“From August 15 to 17, we will start the dry run and will only remind motorists of the expanded number coding scheme. From August 18 onwards, the MMDA will start apprehending and will issue traffic violation tickets on ground and through our non-contact apprehension policy,” Dimayuga said.
Exempted from the UVVRP are public utility vehicles (including tricycles), transport network vehicle services, motorcycles, garbage trucks, fuel trucks, marked government vehicles, fire trucks, ambulances, marked media vehicles, and motor vehicles carrying essential and/or perishable goods.
Meanwhile, existing number coding ordinances of the respective local government units will prevail on secondary roads. The MMC, composed of the 17 local government units of Metro Manila, is the governing body and policy-making body of the MMDA.