A House leader has called out the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) for alleged "abuse of authority" in proposing a two-day number coding ban on private vehicles.

"I oppose the MMDA imposition of the number coding scheme covering two days out of the five week days of work because it amounts to unjust effective deprivation of use of property without due process of law by the MMDA, a government agency which has rule-making authority but not legislative power," Senior Citizen Party-list Rep. Rodolfo "Ompong" Ordanes said in a statement on Black Saturday, April 16, 2022.

"I hope the various organizations of motorists and consumers will reject this nonsense and unconstitutional act involving abuse of authority and lack of due process on the part of the MMDA," added the solon.

Ordanes is a vice chairman of the House Committee on Metro Manila Development. Manila 1st district Rep. Manny Lopez chairs the panel.

According to Ordanes, motorists might find these two days of coding revolting because they can drive their motor vehicles for only three days of the five-day work week.

Their alternative means of transportation during the two days their vehicles are banned from major roads would be to either take public transport or use Transportation Network Vehicle Services (TNVS).

"These alternatives impose hardships on motorists and vehicle owners that amounts to removing their right to use their hard-earned property," the party-list solon said.

He further said that the MMDA proposal lacks prior consultation and a system of redress of grievance. He also claimed that there is no tangible direct benefit to the motorist for giving up the use of their vehicles for two days.

"The easing of traffic congestion is a mere MMDA promise," the statement read.

"Instead of the two days of coding banning private vehicles from major roads," Ordanes said, "I suggest reducing by 50 percent the toll fee on the Skyways and other elevated roadways. This way, traffic congestion can be truly eased at ground level because a substantial number of vehicles will instead use the elevated roads."