MMDA may suspend number coding during week-long transport strike

A traffic enforcer from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority helps in organizing the flow of traffic along EDSA-Magallanes, Makati City. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / RICHARD A. REYES

MANILA, Philippines —  The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Thursday said it may suspend the number coding scheme in Metro Manila, depending on the gravity of the week-long transport strike starting March 6.

“Magsususpend tayo if ever ng number coding scheme para ‘yung 20 percent na nababawas sa mga private vehicles ay maging available,” said MMDA chair Romando Artes during a press briefing.

(We might suspend the number coding scheme so that the 20 percent deducted from private vehicles will be available.)

“Para makadagdag naman itong private vehicle owners sa public transport natin,” he added.

(So that private vehicle owners can add to our public transport.)

When asked when the agency will suspend the coding scheme, Artes said that the coding scheme will most likely be suspended for Monday first, clarifying that the suspension of the coding scheme is not yet final, as it will depend on the gravity of the said transport strike.

“Siguro at least ‘yung Monday muna, icoconfirm namin by tomorrow kung i-suspend namin,” said Artes.

(Maybe at least Monday first, we will confirm by tomorrow if we will suspend.)

He added that the MMDA cannot be rash in declaring a full-week suspension, as it is unclear how many jeepney operators will join the transport strike starting March 6, Monday.

Free transport for affected commuters

Meanwhile, the MMDA and San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora vowed to provide free transportation to affected commuters during the week-long strike.

“Nagpapaimbentaryo na po tayo ng assets ng LGUs (local government units), para po sa possible deployment para i-augment ‘yung public transport kung sakaling matuloy itong nationwide transport strike,” said Artes.

(We are now inventorying the assets of the LGUs, for possible deployment to augment public transport in case this nationwide transport strike continues.)

“Kami po sa MMDA, ay merong sariling mga buses at tiyaka yung mga vans na atin din pong magagamit,” he added.

(We at MMDA have our buses and vans that we can also use.)

Zamora, for his part, declared that the city of San Juan would utilize its barangay (village) and government vehicles to assist affected commuters.

“Kung kinakailangan pati mga tricycles po na may kaniya kaniyang ruta, we can suspend their routes usual routes upang masakyan ng mga mamamayan,” said Zamora.

(If needed, even tricycles with their own route, we can suspend their usual ways so that citizens can opt to ride them.)

“Ngunit syempre umaasa po tayo na hindi matuloy ang tigil pasada,” he added.

(Of course, we hope the transport strike will not continue.)

All these developed after the transportation group Manibela on Monday, Feb. 27, announced its plans to stage a week-long strike starting March 6 in protest over the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board’s (LTFRB) Circular Memorandum No. 2023-013, which sets the deadline for the phaseout of traditional jeepneys on June 30.

The LTFRB on Wednesday, then announced to further extend the deadline to Dec. 31.

Initially, the franchise for traditional jeepneys was supposedly set to expire by the end of March nationwide, except for Metro Manila which was until the end of April in accordance with the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program.

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