‘No window’ policy begins

PHOTO by GRIG MONTEGRANDE/INQUIRER

The three-day dry run for the “no window hours” policy, an adjustment being made for the holiday season in connection with the number coding scheme for vehicles, starts today on four major roads in Metro Manila.

Starting Wednesday till Friday, private vehicles covered by the day’s number coding scheme can no longer take advantage of the 10 a.m.-to-3 p.m. window on Edsa, C5 Road, Alabang-Zapote Road and Roxas Boulevard. They are therefore banned on these roads from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The dry run will also cover roads in the cities of Mandaluyong, Makati and Las Piñas. Affected motorists are encouraged to use the 17 designated Mabuhay Lanes to get to their destination.

The new policy will be fully enforced on Oct. 17.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) general manager Tim Orbos on Tuesday explained that while motorists caught for violations during the dry run would be flagged down, they would not be issued citation tickets but would just be reminded of the new policy.

Orbos said the Interagency Counctil for Traffic (I-ACT) decided to implement the new policy ahead of schedule—the original date announced was Oct. 31—because of the “immediate need” to ease road congestion, which is expected to get worse as the Christmas season approaches.

MMDA traffic engineering head Neomie Recio said vehicular volume in Metro Manila roads swell by as much as 15 percent during the holidays. With the new policy, it is expected to be reduced by as much as 20 percent, she added.

Meanwhile, Chief Supt. Antonio Gardiola, head of the Philippine National Police’s Highway Patrol Group, said they are intensifying their road-clearing operations on four of the 17 Mabuhay Lanes, particularly in the northern and southern sections of the metropolis.

The no-window policy will last till Jan. 31 next year.

Should it prove to be effective, the I-ACT said Metro Manila mayors may consider to make it permanent.