MMC expected to talk on limited lifting of coding scheme for public transport

MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has committed to include in the agenda of the Metro Manila Council’s (MMC) next meeting the proposal to lift all coding schemes on public transport within a certain window of time for all Metro Manila cities.

The MMDA made this promise during the meeting on Tuesday of the technical working group on the provincial bus ban and the granting of emergency powers to help solve traffic. A copy of the points raised during the meeting was released to the media on Wednesday by the office of Sen. Grace Poe, who heads Senate committee on public services.

The proposed window of time for the lifting of the coding scheme is between 5 a.m. to 9 a.m, according to the release.

The MMC is composed of  Metro Manila mayors and  is the governing board and policy-making body of the MMDA.

Meanwhile, the Quezon City government also committed to pass its ordinance exempting it from the number coding scheme of the MMDA.

“Ideally, the lifting of the scheme for public transport should be allowed up to the endpoints which are beyond Quezon City, including Ortigas, Makati, and Quiapo,” the release said.

The Quezon City government through its traffic czar Ariel Inton and the MMDA represented by Engr. Emilio Llavor of the Road Safety Unit likewise discussed the proposal for the provision of additional buses for commuters along Commonwealth.

The parties said these buses will be dispatched and positioned along Soliven and Doña Carmen instead of their origin points in Fairview, according to the released sent by Poe’s office. This setup will allow buses to cater to 4,000 to 5,000 passengers stranded during rush hours.

Since the MMDA and the Quezon City government are amenable to the proposal, the said local government unit is set to launch its dry run anytime, which will not require consent from the MMC since it only concerns traffic in Quezon City.

Asked about its specific projects which will require emergency powers, the MMDA conceded that it is mainly a coordinating body and that any grant of emergency powers to the traffic czar might not go directly to the MMDA.

The  MMDA also cited some projects that might need expanded powers so it can arrive at sustainable solutions.  /muf