Metro Manila’s number coding scheme resumes Aug. 15: What you need to know

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority is set to resume the number coding scheme in Metro Manila roads beginning August 15, 2022, in anticipation of the return of face-to-face classes of students. INQUIRER.net file photo / JONATHAN VICENTE

MANILA, Philippines — In anticipation of a spike in traffic volume due to the return of full face-to-face classes, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will resume the number coding scheme in Metro Manila during rush hours starting Monday, August 15.

MMDA acting chairman Carlo Dimayuga III said approximately 387,000 vehicles are traversing Edsa daily as of last week, and, once the full face-to-face classes resume in November, the daily volume is expected to balloon to 436,000, higher than the pre-pandemic average of 405,000 vehicles.

Dimayuga said that the number coding would be necessary as it is projected to reduce traffic volume by 20 percent during morning, afternoon, and evening peak hours.

Thus, vehicles with plate numbers ending in 1 and 2 will be prohibited from using public roads in a particular period on Mondays; 3 and 4 on Tuesdays; 5 and 6 on Wednesdays; 7 and 8 on Thursdays; and 9 and 0 on Fridays.

The number coding will now run from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m, with a window period of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Previously, MMDA only implemented the coding during evening rush hours — 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. — due to the lockdowns and limited work operations in cities brought about by the pandemic.

The coding period  will be implemented in the cities of Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela, Quezon City, Marikina, Pasig, Taguig, Manila, Mandaluyong, San Juan, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas, and Muntinlupa, as well as the municipality of Pateros.

Makati

The city of Makati, however, will retain its number coding period, which is from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., according to Makati City Law Department head Atty. Don Camiña.

“Policy in Makati will remain the same based on our Ordinance,” Camiña told reporters on Friday.

Implementation

The MMDA will not apprehend motorists breaking the rules in the first few days even though the morning number coding scheme begins on Monday.

The MMDA will give motorists a grace period of August 15 to 17. After that, traffic enforcers will just warn the violators within the said period, according to Dimayuga.

MMDA will not yet apprehend number coding scheme violators from August 15-17, according to Dimayuga.

But starting August 18, MMDA enforcers will begin issuing violation tickets.

If the MMDA enforcers did not issue your violation ticket, violators would have to settle the citation with the personnel of the local government unit that issued it.

As for Makati City, Camiña said the city is not affected by the MMDA-enforced grace period.

“The City of Makati has long begun regular implementation of its coding scheme,” Camiña said. “The City will continue issuing OVRs (ordinance violation receipt) for the violators of coding within its jurisdiction.”

Penalty

The penalty for number coding violators is at P300, an MMDA spokesperson said on Friday.

The spokesperson also said that the fine for the number coding scheme violation with the MMDA could be settled at any Landbank, SM Bills Payment, or Bayad Center branches within seven days.

Failure to do so within the period will require going to the agency’s office on Edsa corner Orense Street to settle the penalty.

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