MMDA brings back number coding scheme for private vehicles

Nearly two years after it was suspended, the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP) will be reimplemented by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

Majority of Metro Manila's 17 mayors have agreed to bring back the number coding scheme for private motorists

The decision to bring back the number coding scheme came as majority of the Metro Manila Council (MMC), comprising the National Capital Region’s 17 mayors, agreed to reinstate the measure. It was suspended in March 2020, during the initial lockdowns enforced on account of the COVID-19 pandemic.    

A report by Super Radyo DZBB cites MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalos as saying that the coding scheme will be implemented Monday to Friday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Only private vehicles will be covered, as public utility vehicles (PUVs) are still operating at limited capacity under Alert Level 2.

PUVs will not be covered by the scheme in the meantime

The agency adds that the actual implementation of the metro-wide number coding scheme will begin two days after the resolution is formally published on the Official Gazette on Tuesday, November 30. 

Currently, only Makati City is enforcing its own traffic coding scheme. This has been modified to exempt vehicles with two or more occupants, which is seen as the city’s effort to encourage carpooling among motorists, to reduce the number of vehicles on the road.  
Among the vehicles exempted from Makati’s modified number coding scheme are the following: 

• Motorcycles
• Emergency vehicles i.e. ambulances, fire trucks, military vehicles, police patrol cars on official functions
• Diplomatic vehicles with diplomatic plates
• Government vehicles with either government plates, appropriate LTO stickers, or clear markings of the agency concerned while in use
• Official media vehicles that are expressly marked and are on official duty
• Tow trucks duly accredited by the City of Makati
• Vehicles used by media practitioners in an emergency
• Vehicles with Senior Citizen Blu Card holders as drivers or passengers 

Abalos previously said that the MMDA can still manage NCR traffic even without the coding scheme in place, noting that he wants public transportation to normalize first.

Find more mobility updates at Philkotse.com.