The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced that the number coding scheme will be suspended during this year’s Holy Week.
MMDA chairman Romando Artes said that the 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. number coding scheme is suspended on April 12 (Holy Tuesday) and April 13 (Holy Wednesday). On the other hand, the number coding scheme is automatically lifted on April 14 (Maundy Thursday) and April 15 (Good Friday) since those dates are declared holidays.
The MMDA decision to lift the number coding is to give motorists the chance to travel to their respective provinces earlier during Holy Week.
Meanwhile, the MMDA has proposed two new number coding schemes to help curb traffic in Metro Manila. The agency has yet to decide which of the two new number coding schemes will be implemented. The latest update that the agency shared is that the new number coding could begin after the May 9 elections.
MMDA general manager Frisco San Juan Jr. previously shared that the agency is in talks with other government agencies in regards to which of the two proposed number coding schemes shall be put into effect.
One of the proposed new number coding schemes by the MMDA is the odd-even format. MMDA chairman Romando Artes shared that the odd-even number coding can reduce traffic by 50 percent.
The odd-even scheme prohibits vehicles with plates ending with odd numbers (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) to drive on public roads on Monday and Thursday from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
On the other hand, vehicles with plates ending with even numbers (2, 4, 6, 8, 0) are not allowed on public roads on Tuesday and Friday from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
The odd-even number coding scheme allows all vehicles to use public roads every Wednesday.
The second proposal raised by the MMDA is said to reduce traffic by 40 percent. The second proposal will ban vehicles on the following days:
- Monday: plates ending in 1, 2, 3, 4
- Tuesday: plates ending in 5, 6, 7, 8
- Wednesday: plates ending in 9, 0, 1, 2
- Thursday: plates ending in 3, 4, 5, 6
- Friday: plates ending in 7, 8, 9, 0
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