MMDA flags down 291 vehicles for breaking coding

MANILA, Philippines - Traffic enforcers of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Tuesday flagged-down 291 brand-new vehicles without license plates as part of its implementation of the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP) or the “number coding” scheme.

“The purpose is for them to abide with the UVVRP’s rules and regulations,” said MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino. The vehicles that were flagged-down only had conduction stickers from the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

The vehicles were flagged-down by the MMDA enforcers at the corner of Estrella St. and EDSA near the MMDA’s office in Makati.

Tolentino said that under the recently signed MMDA Memorandum Circular 6, dealers of brand new vehicles are now required to display the alpha-numeric conduction sticker code prominently on the space allotted for regular license plates in front and in the rear of the vehicle once it is out of the dealership.

Tolentino said that as the LTO conduction sticker is placed on the upper left portion of the windshield, it is difficult for traffic enforcers to see the last digit of the conduction sticker which is the basis of their classification under the UVVRP. 

“The last digit of the unexpired and valid conduction stickers issued by the LTO  to newly acquired vehicles shall be considered in the implementation of the UVVRP,” the MMDA said.

MMDA enforcers started its check on vehicles with LTO conduction stickers last April 22.

Last April 5, Tolentino announced that the coverage of the UVVRP has been expanded to include brand new vehicles without license plates but are on the streets using conduction stickers issued by the LTO.

Tolentino said that under the memorandum, new vehicles without license plates and with only LTO conduction stickers are deemed covered by the UVVRP.

According to the MMDA, the circular takes effect 15 days after its publication.

"In view of the temporary unavailability of license plates from the LTO and for the purpose of the implementation of the UVVRP, the last numerical digit of the conduction stickers shall determine the day the vehicle is covered by the number coding,” Tolentino said.

Under the UVVRP, vehicles with license plates or conduction stickers that end in 1 and 2 are banned from the streets of Metro Manila, including EDSA and C-5 from 7 am to 10 a.m. and again from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Vehicles with license plates and conduction stickers ending in 3 and 4 are banned on Tuesdays; 5 and 6 on Wednesdays; 7 and 8 on Thursdays; and 9 and 0 on Fridays.

Tolentino also earlier warned dealers and owners of brand new vehicles not to detach the conduction sticker from their vehicles. They are likewise required to prominently display the conduction sticker numbers on the spaces allotted for regular license plates in front and at the rear of the vehicle for the efficient implementation of the UVVRP. This shall be immediately replaced with the regular LTO plates once issued.

"This improvisation is only for the purpose of UVVRP implementation. The regulation shall not supplant any law, rules and regulations concerning vehicle registration. Upon the installation of LTO-issued license plates, the vehicle shall be covered by the UVVRP using the last numerical digit of the license plate as basis,” Tolentino said.

According to the MMDA, a fine of P300 will be imposed on violators of the new number coding guidelines. (with Pauline Tome)