The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has announced the reimplementation of the number coding scheme in the National Capital Region (NCR) within this week.
This came after the majority of the Metro mayors already signed a resolution bringing back the coding scheme, which will be implemented from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. from Monday to Friday except holidays.
The scheme will only cover private vehicles, MMDA said.
This means public utility vehicles (PUVs), Transportation Network Vehicle Services (TNVS), motorcycles, garbage trucks, fuel trucks, motor vehicles carrying essential and perishable goods are exempted, MMDA added.
MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalos said stickers shall be issued to TNVS for easy identification.
"We are in coordination with the TNVS on the implementation of rules and regulations regarding this concern," Abalos said.
Meanwhile, he added, there is also a modification in the implementation of the uniform ban on light trucks.
Depending on their plate number, light trucks shall be prohibited to ply EDSA between Magallanes in Makati City and North Avenue in Quezon City, both northbound and southbound, from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. from Mondays to Fridays, except holidays.
Light trucks refer to motor vehicles, whether for commercial use or not, with a gross capacity weight of 4,500 kilograms or below and/or having six (6) or more tires, the payload area of which are either enclosed or open.
MMDA told reporters in a Viber message that the resolution on the coding scheme will be released to the public once signed by all the 17 local chief executives in Metro Manila.
“I-implement po ang (We will implement) modified coding within this week. Need lang po ma-publish muna sa official gazette (We just need to publish it in the official gazette),” it said.
Recently, Abalos suggested the reimplementation of the number coding scheme, which was suspended due to COVID-19 lockdown and the suspension of mass transportation, as the current volume of traffic in the NCR almost returned to pre-pandemic level, at around 390,000 vehicles plying on EDSA alone everyday.
“Bakit hindi umaga? Kasi ang problema sa umaga, nagmamadali ‘yung mga tao pumasok, yun bang naghahabol ka (Why not implement it in the morning? Because the problem is more people are in a rush in the morning),” Abalos explained in a recent DZRH interview.