The Metro Manila Council (MMC) will have the final decision on the resumption of the number coding scheme as heavy volume of vehicles is expected in the capital region ahead of the holiday season.
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Public Affairs Staff Acting Director Sharon Gentalian said MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalos is set to present several recommendations on the re-implementation of the coding scheme before the MMC.
According to Gentalian, Abalos will recommend a modified number coding scheme to be imposed during the afternoon rush hours or from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
"Ang 5 to 8 p.m. number coding scheme ay isa pa lamang rekomendasyon na ipe-present ni Chairman Benhur Abalos sa mga Metro Manila mayors sa susunod na MMC meeting (The 5 to 8 p.m. number coding scheme is just a recommendation that will be presented by Chairman Abalos to the Metro Manila mayors in the next MMC meeting)," Gentalian told reporters on Monday, Nov. 22.
"Anuman po na scheme ang i-implement ay kailangang aprubado ng mga mayors (Whatever coding scheme will implemented must be approved first by the mayors)," she added.
The MMDA official said the proposal is among the three number coding scheme options being studied by the agency after observing that traffic in Metro Manila is already nearing pre-pandemic levels.
In a separate interview over CNN Philippines, MMDA Director Noemie Recio said the three options on the table include the implementation of the number coding scheme during morning peak hours (7 a.m. to 9 a.m.), afternoon to evening peak hours (5 p.m. to 7 p.m.), and the whole day ( 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.).
While no final decision has been made yet, Recio said the approved coding scheme could be implemented by late November or early December, pending the approval of the Metro Manila mayors.
Abalos earlier said the scheme will be initially imposed for private vehicles only, while healthcare workers and the public transport system will be exempted.
The MMDA recently bared that the current volume of traffic along EDSA, Metro Manila's major highway, is already almost the same as it was before lockdowns imposed amid COVID-19 pandemic.