Expanded number coding scheme no longer needed, MMDA says

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said that the proposed expanded number coding scheme is no longer needed at the moment due to the rising fuel prices.

The MMDA says the expanded number coding scheme not necessary as of the moment

MMDA chairman Romando Artes shared during a Laging Handa press briefing that the agency is leaning towards keeping the current number coding in place. Artes added that the proposed expanded number coding scheme is not necessary as vehicle volume on EDSA has decreased.

The MMDA previously said that the reduced number of vehicles plying along EDSA is due to the upward trend when it comes to fuel prices. The agency even said that the vehicles driving through EDSA are fewer compared to the average daily volume before the COVID-19 pandemic happened. 

Based on its data, the MMDA noted that around 392,000 vehicles drove through EDSA on June 9, 2022. The said number is lower compared to the  417,000 vehicles that passed on the said thoroughfare on May 5. 

The MMDA’s data also suggest that the 392,000 vehicles that traveled on EDSA last June 9 are fewer than the recorded vehicle volume during the pre-pandemic, which is 405,882. This translates to having 3.5 percent fewer cars traveling along EDSA.  

EDSA vehicle volume pre-pandemic vs pandemic

Artes also mentioned that the vehicle volume on EDSA is still decreasing. The MMDA’s latest data showed that the vehicle volume on EDSA dropped to 390,000 vehicles last Sunday, June 19.  

"Sa ngayon po wala po tayong plano na magpatupad ng expanded number coding scheme dahil nakikita po namin na wala naman pong pangangailangan sa ngayon dahil po patuloy na nababawasan ang bilang ng sasakyan sa ating lansangan,” Artes said.

(As of now, we don’t have plans to implement the expanded number coding scheme as the agency doesn’t see it necessary since the number of vehicles continues to decrease.) 

As such, the current number coding scheme will still be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. with vehicles prohibited to drive on public roads once a week. Vehicles with plates ending in 1 and 2 are not allowed on Metro Manila roads on Mondays; 3 and 4 on Tuesdays; 5 and 6 on Wednesdays; 7 and 8 on Thursdays; and 9 and 0 on Fridays.  

Although motorists should take note that Makati City is implementing the number coding from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

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