Number coding during morning rush hour still pending

Now that the National Capital Region (NCR) has been placed under Alert Level 1, one can expect that traffic will be increasing. The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) continues to monitor traffic to determine whether it should expand its number coding scheme or not.

MMDA holds the implementation of number coding during the morning rush hour

But in a report by Philstar.com, traffic under the Alert Level 1 is smoother so far. MMDA Chairman Romando Artes said in an interview on dzBB that the government agency recorded fewer vehicles traversing EDSA as compared to the volume of cars during Alert Level 2.

A total of 367,535 vehicles were recorded to have traversed EDSA last March 1, which was the first day of implementation of the Alert Level 1. The MMDA said that it is lower compared to the 372,528 vehicles recorded during the first day of Alert Level 2. As such, the expansion of the number coding scheme that will include a morning restriction for the concerned vehicles is still pending.

This means that the current implementation of the number coding scheme from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. shall be observed. The truck ban is still active along EDSA, except for those that are carrying essential goods. And due to the crisis in the transport sector, the policy does not cover public transport vehicles.

Public transport vehicles are exempted from the number coding

From March 1 to 15, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF) allows public transportation to accommodate 100 percent seating capacity. The use of plastic barriers or dividers is no longer required given that passengers should observe the minimum health and safety protocol including the wearing of face masks.

The MMDA might’ve had held back the number coding during morning rush hour for now, but Makati City will be taking a different route. In our previous report, the city of Makati will be resuming its regular number coding scheme by March 16, waiving most of the exemptions that were formed during the surge of the COVID-19.

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