THE 7-10 a.m. number coding scheme in the capital region, which restricts private vehicles from roads once a week based on the plate’s last number, will be on a test run for three days and full implementation starts Aug. 18, a Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) official said at the weekend.
“Number coding is not something new. We are just changing the window hours but then again, we will have a sort of a dry-run, Monday to Wednesday,” Edison “Bong” L. Nebrija, MMDA head for special operations, said in mixed English and Filipino in an interview with TV5’s One Weekend Balita on Saturday.
This means no penalties will be imposed until Wednesday, but violators will be apprehended for information dissemination, he explained.
Both physical and no-contact apprehension systems will be in effect for the full implementation of the vehicle reduction program.
Mr. Nebrija said the coding scheme will cover 10 major roads and six circumferential roads, including Alabang Zapote road, E. Mabini Street, Marcos Highway, and MacArthur Highway in Valenzuela City.
MMDA said last week the reimplementation of the traffic reduction program in the morning is in line with the expected increase in vehicle volume with the resumption of classes on Aug. 22.
The number coding scheme will also remain in effect from 5-8 p.m. on weekdays.
The following are exempted: Public utility vehicles, transport network vehicle services, motorcycles, garbage trucks, fuel trucks, marked government vehicles, fire trucks, ambulances, marked media vehicles, and motor vehicles carrying essential and/or perishable goods. — MSJ