The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has lifted the number coding scheme being implemented in the National Capital Region on Monday, March 6, the start of the weeklong transport strike.
But MMDA General Manager Undersecretary. Procopio Lipana said the lifting of the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP) will on be in effect on Monday, which means that vehicles with license plates ending in 1 and 2 could enjoy it.
"The UVVRP suspension is for Monday only. We will assess if there is a need to suspend the number coding scheme on the succeeding days, depending on the gravity of the transport strike," said who is also the head of the Inter-Agency Task Force Monitoring Team secretariat.
The decision was finalized on Sunday, March 5, during an inter-agency meeting at the MMDA headquarters in Makati City.
Aside from the lifting of the number coding scheme, the MMDA will also be deploying at least 25 vehicles to assist the would-be stranded commuters.
The MMDA’s vehicle deployment for free ride will be reinforced with around 1,200 more vehicles from the 17 local government units of Metro Manila, according to Lipana.
The MMDA’s 25 vehicles, which include four air-conditioned buses, two non-air-conditioned buses and 13 commuter vans can carry around 1,200 passengers per trip.
“Also, the MMDA will deploy more than 2,000 personnel to monitor situations on the ground. They are tasked to give immediate feedback and reports as to areas where there are stranded commuters,” said Lipana.
The one-week transport strike will be staged by various transport groups including Manibela and Piston to protest the government's Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) Modernization Program
At least 10 transport groups operating in Metro Manila have already declared that they will not join the transport strike.