Starting tomorrow, Dec. 1, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will be implementing the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP), popularly known as number coding scheme, in a bid to reduce the number of vehicles amid the start of the pre-pandemic traffic build-up especially in major thoroughfares of the National Capital Region.
MMDA chairman Benhur Abalos said the re-implementation of the number coding scheme was an offshoot of the decision of the Metro Manila mayors approved a resolution on the implementation of the calibrated traffic mitigation measures in the National Capital Region (NCR) aimed to avoid a traffic management crisis in the future.
Abalos explained that the recent travel survey and analysis which was conducted by the MMDA Traffic Engineering Center, including vehicle volume count, travel time and travel speed study, and average daily traffic rate, it was determined that the current traffic situation is approaching the pre-pandemic levels.
“Data shows that the travel speed along the northbound portion of EDSA is 9.66 kilometers per hour. Hence, we have to reinstate the number coding scheme during the afternoon rush hours to address the problem,” said Abalos.
But Abalos said he resumption of the number coding scheme in the metropolis will only cover private vehicles and during rush hour in the afternoon on Mondays to Fridays, from 5pm to 8pm, except holidays.
Vehicles with plates ending in 1 and 2 are prohibited on Monday, 3 and 4 on Tuesday, 5 and 6 on Wednesday, 7 and 8 on Thursday, 9 and 0 on Friday.
For her part, Neomie Recio, MMDA Traffic Discipline Office director, said approximately 2,700 vehicles per hour will be reduced plying EDSA alone.
Truck ban
Abalos said the light trucks ban along EDSA will be reimplemented, also with modification.
Based on the UVVRP motor vehicle plate endings, light trucks shall be prohibited to ply EDSA between Magallanes, Makati City and North Avenue, 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.
Exception
Abalos said the total truck ban policy along EDSA between Magallanes, Makati City and North Avenue, Quezon City, both northbound and southbound, shall remain and be strictly enforced with the exception of garbage trucks, fuel trucks, and trucks carrying essential and/or perishable goods.
On the other hand, the truck ban hours in the NCR shall remain suspended until further notice.
"Trucks" refer to motor vehicles, whether for commercial use or not, with a gross capacity weight of above 4,500 kilograms.