ZERO CODINGMetro Manila is coding-free for the next five days to allow people to head home to the provinces for Holy Week. —NIÑO JESUS ORBETA
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has lifted the number coding scheme starting today, March 28, up to April 2, Monday, for both public and private vehicles in anticipation of the exodus to the provinces for Holy Week.
Acting MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia said on Tuesday that the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP) would be lifted for city and provincial buses starting at 12 a.m. today.
But not in Makati
For private vehicles, the number coding scheme would begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday onwards, except in Makati City.
The UVVRP is automatically suspended on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.
According to Garcia, the UVVRP was suspended as early as Wednesday to provide an alternative means of transport to riders of the busiest train line in Metro Manila. The Metro Rail Transit 3 will suspend operations starting today, March 28, until April 1, Easter Sunday.
On the other hand, the Light Rail Transit Lines 1 and 2 will cease operations from Thursday, March 29, up to April 1.
The Philippine National Railways will be closed on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday but it will have provisional operations on Black Saturday.
Although Malacañang did not declare today, March 28, a holiday, it issued Memorandum Circular No. 43 signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea suspending classes in public schools and work in government offices starting at noon.
Half-day for court workers
Last week, the Supreme Court issued an advisory ordering all courts to also observe a half-day schedule on Holy Wednesday except for “courts in cities or municipalities where the local government has declared a whole-day suspension of work.”
According to Garcia, the MMDA will deploy 1,854 personnel during the Lenten break in line with its Oplan Mass (Metro Alalay Semana Santa), especially in areas of concern and traffic chokepoints.