No coding on Monday for P-Noy's SONA

MANILA, Philippines – The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) yesterday said it would be suspending the Unified Vehicle Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP) or the “number coding” scheme on Monday when President Aquino will be giving his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the House of Representatives.

“We deemed appropriate to suspend the number coding scheme following the clamor of well-wishers and people wanting to get as close as possible to the President on this momentous day,” said MMDA Chairman Oscar Inocentes.

The MMDA earlier said it is considering the possibility of removing the “window” hours for vehicles covered by the “number coding.”

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 enforce a “total” number coding where “coded” vehicles for the day are not allowed in the streets from 7 a.m. until 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,” Inocentes said.

Inocentes said that 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.