MMDA: Edsa bus lane, number coding suspension to stay in 2021
MANILA, Philippines — The suspension of the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP) or the “number coding scheme” in Metro Manila, and the bus lane along the Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (Edsa) will stay in 2021, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said Friday.
MMDA general manager Jojo Garcia said the number coding scheme will stay suspended as the public transportation situation is not yet stable amid the quarantine restrictions being imposed to contain the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
“Maybe not yet. Alam naman natin na ang ating public transportation hindi pa siya ganun ka-stable, hindi full capacity,” he said in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel when asked if the number coding scheme that seeks to limit the number of vehicles along roads will resume next year.
(Maybe not yet. We know that our public transportation is not yet that stable and does not yet allow full capacity.)
“Hindi pa ganun ka-stable ang ating public transportation so baka hindi muna natin i-[balik] ‘yan. Nakalift pa rin ang ating [number] coding,” he said.
(Public transportation is not yet that stable so maybe we won’t resume the number coding. It is still lifted.)
Article continues after this advertisementGarcia also noted that there would be loads of requests for exemptions for the scheme if it will resume, especially for medical frontliners and essential workers.
Article continues after this advertisementMeanwhile, the MMDA official likewise said that the bus lane along Edsa allowed faster travel along the major thoroughfare.
“Definitely. Ang sabi ko nga, ang daming naapektuhan na private vehicles. But tingnan mo naman ang nangyari sa concept. From Monumento to Ayala ang commuters natin, 45 minutes nandoon na. Before it’s more than 3 hours,” he said when asked if the bus lane will continue to be in place next year.
(Definitely. Like I said there were a lot of private vehicles that have been affected. But look at what happened because of that concept. From Monumento to Ayala, commuters will only have to travel for 45 minutes. Before, it takes more than 3 hours.)
He said that commuters need to be prioritized in the middle of the pandemic, as they should not stay in buses for long hours.
The MMDA suspended the number coding scheme for both private and public vehicles in Metro Manila in March amid travel restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
