MMDA seeks removal of window hours for 'number coding' scheme

MANILA, Philippines – The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is proposing the removal of “window” hours for vehicles covered by the Unified Vehicle Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP) or the “number coding” scheme.

MMDA Chairman Oscar Inocentes said removing the window hours between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. would greatly relieve the problem of traffic volume. At the moment, only Makati City, Malabon and Las Piñas do not allow vehicles banned for the day to pass through their streets from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

“This is one solution which I believe can really solve the traffic problem. At the moment, even if there is number coding, the coded vehicles can still go out in the streets during the window hours. These still add to the volume of vehicles in the streets for that day,” he said.

Inocentes said he will put his proposal for discussion with the Metro Manila Council, which is composed of all the mayors of Metro Manila, on Aug. 5.

Inocentes has also proposed that public utility buses be again covered by the UVVRP since more and more commuters are taking the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and the Light Rail Transit (LRT).

“We have been noticing that there are fewer and fewer passengers patronizing buses. There are simply too much of them running on the roads empty. They only add up to congestion,” Inocentes said.

According to the MMDA, there are approximately 4,000 buses plying EDSA and other major roads each day.

Inocentes added that the re-inclusion of buses in the implementation of the UVVRP will also complement the MMDA’s Organized Bus Route (OBR) program, which seeks to limit buses on EDSA through scheduled fielding of buses from common terminals.

MMDA-OBR chief Antonio Pagulayan Jr. said reducing the number of buses a day by at least 20 percent will mean much in easing traffic on major roads.

“Statistically speaking, that would be a big help. We only need to cut down the number of buses by at least 20 percent a day and we will have a noticeable improvement in traffic conditions,” he said.

According to the MMDA, public utility buses were covered by the UVVRP until 2004 when then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered the exemption of buses from the scheme.

Under the UVVRP, vehicles with license plates ending in 1 and 2 are prohibited from using the streets between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. and again from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Mondays. Vehicles with license plates ending in 3 and 4 are covered by the UVVRP on Tuesdays; plates ending in 5 and 6 on Wednesdays; 7 and 8 on Thursdays and 9 and 0 on Fridays. The UVVRP is suspended during weekends and during holidays.