Heads up motorists! Metro Manila Council (MMC) President and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora said on Wednesday, Oct. 25, that the council has approved the modification of the Unified Vehicle Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP) or the number coding scheme to mitigate traffic congestion in the metro.
In a Viber message, Zamora posted Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Regulation No. 22-003 amending MMDA Resolution No. 22-14, Series of 2022 and the Joint Metro Manila Traffic Code Circular No. 01, Series of 2023 (Title III No. 12) on the implementation of the Unified Vehicle Volume Reduction Program.
According to the order, the number coding scheme being implemented from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. will soon become 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (with no window hours) in the following thoroughfares and roads:
Circumferential roads:
C1. Recto Avenue
C2. Pres. Quirino Avenue
C3. Araneta Avenue
C4. EDSA
C5. C.P. Garcia Avenue
Radial Roads:
R1. Roxas Boulevard
R2. Taft Avenue
R3. SLEX
R4. Shaw Boulevard
R5. Ortigas Avenue
R6. Magsaysay Boulevard/Aurora Boulevard
R7. Quezon Avenue/Commonwealth Avenue
R8. A. Bonifacio Avenue
R9. Rizal Avenue
R10. Anda Circle to Samson Road
"Studies made on traffic volume shows that traffic congestion was not limited only to designated peak periods as traffic volume on major thoroughfares during peak and off-peak hours were closed to being similar," the order read.
"These studies affirm the need to adjust the number coding scheme under the Unified Vehicle Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP) to distribute traffic more evenly throughout off-peak periods and provide a more consistent flow of traffic around the clock on major roads based on similar volumes seen in peak and off-peak hours alike, hence, warranting the removal of "window hours" on appropriate roads," it added.
The council said the upcoming "ber" months also became a factor for the passage of the said order since most people often go out of their homes to celebrate the Yuletide season with their families and loved ones in malls, parks, and other places, which adds to the volume of traffic in Metro Manila.
Zamora stressed the modified number coding scheme will only be implemented once the order has been published in two newspapers of general circulation and submission to the National Administrative Register at the UP Law Center.
Christmas rush
Earlier, the MMC president said the council has already set up measures to address the expected Christmas rush, with malls in the metropolis agreeing to adjust their operating hours to help manage traffic.
"Sa huling pagpupulong po ng Metro Manila Council ay gaya ng mga nakaraang taon, ang mga malls natin ay magbabago ng operating hours so 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. na para hindi sila sumasabay dun sa rush hour. So those who want to shop at the malls, they can do so until 11 p.m. and pag sarado ng mall, medyo bawas na din po ang bilang ng mga sasakyan (During the last Metro Manila Council meeting, metro malls will adjust the operating hours, which will be at 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., as in the previous years. This ensures that they will not add up to (volume) during rush hour. So those who want to shop at the malls, they can do so until 11 p.m. and once the malls close, the volume of vehicles will also decrease)," Zamora said in a radio interview.
Mall deliveries will also be conducted from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. only.
He added that the council will release an official announcement regarding the new mall hours.
Aside from the adjusted mall hours, the MMC will also pass a resolution calling for a moratorium on road works in the National Capital Region (NCR) to help decrease traffic.