Number coding for provincial buses suspended for the holidays

GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE/Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has lifted the number coding scheme for provincial buses from Dec. 23 to Dec. 27 and from Dec. 31  to January 2 next year.

This is to “accommodate more passengers during the holiday season in going to provinces and back,” read a memorandum from the MMDA  released Friday.

The number coding scheme, also known as the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP), is implemented to reduce the volume of vehicles plying Metro Manila’s major roads by banning vehicles based on the last digit of their vehicle license plates.

During holidays, the number coding scheme for all vehicles is automatically lifted.

Christmas Day (Dec. 25) and New Year’s Day (Jan. 1) have been earlier declared as regular holidays while Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) and Last Day of the Year (Dec. 31) were declared as special non-working holidays.