Number coding scheme for afternoon rush hour may be back in NCR next week, MMDA says

Niño Jesus Orbeta/Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines — The number coding scheme in Metro Manila may be back by the coming week, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairperson Benjamin Abalos said on Friday.

According to Abalos, he will write a recommendation to National Capital Region (NCR) mayors about reinstating the number coding scheme, which would limit the number of vehicles on major roads in Metro Manila.

The MMDA chief said that traffic volume is starting to go back to pre-pandemic levels. However, vehicles would only be barred from major roads during the afternoon rush hour or from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., which means people with private vehicles can still use their cars.

“Probably, for traffic, for color-coding, probably by next week magko-color-coding na tayo (we would use the coding scheme). I’m going to make my own recommendation because the traffic volume right now is nearing the pre-pandemic levels […] especially during Friday night,” Abalos said in a press conference.

“But one thing is for sure, it is only during peak hours. So what we’ll try to is this: I’m going to write recommendations to the mayors to consider,” he added.

Abalos said that they are considering implementing the number coding scheme only in the afternoon so that people whose cars are supposed to be banned on roads can still use private transport in the morning to go to their work or activities, and then just wait for a later hour at night before using roads again.

“Ngayon dinagdagan namin ng choices. Why? Because if you’re going to implement the color coding, you are going to deprive 1 person of the use of the car for one whole day. Hindi niya magagamit ang kotse niya, anong gagawin niya? Pipila siya sa jeep, pipila siya sa bus, eh alam ko 70 percent pa lang yata ang capacity,” he said.

(Now we added options. Why? Because if you’re going to implement the color coding, you are going to deprive 1 person of the use of the car for one whole day. That person who cannot use his car, what would he do? He will line up to ride jeepneys, ride buses, but I know that we are just using 70 percent of public transport spaces.)

“So ‘yong fourth (option) naman baka pupwedeng gawin nating hapon lang ang color coding para may window, so that […] pwede mo pa ring gamitin ang kotse mo,” he added.

(So the fourth is maybe we can place number coding schemes only during afternoons so that there is still a window for you to use your car.)

Under the number coding scheme, cars with plate numbers ending in 1 and 2 would be banned every Monday, 3 and 4 every Tuesday, 5 and 6 every Wednesday, 7 and 8 every Thursday, and 9 and 0 every Friday.

Currently, more and more people are moving around Metro Manila after it was placed under Alert Level 2 due to lower COVID-19 cases. However, health experts have feared that the relaxed attitude might cause another surge.

Authorities from the Department of Health (DOH) have warned against being too relaxed, as the pandemic’s threat along with other variants — like the Delta subvariant — is still present.

READ: Children now allowed out under Alert Level 2 in Metro Manila

READ: Complacency under alert level 2 worries DOH