MMDA eyes 3-digit coding scheme during Christmas season
The proposed scheme is expected to be finalized in a meeting between MMDA and other I-ACT agencies on Thursday, November 24
MANILA, Philippiness – Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chair Tim Orbos on Wednesday, November 23, said he favors the 3-digit coding scheme being proposed for December.
House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez initially suggested adding one more number per day to the coding scheme as Metro Manila expects an increase of vehicular traffic during the Christmas season.
Suarez said that as of the end of October, 23,000 new vehicles had already been purchased – 65% of these in the National Capital Region.
"We need to have that supreme sacrifice of adding one more number to the coding. Dalawang araw sa isang linggo (Two days in a week), you are practically removing 30% of vehicles in our major roads. With the no-window hours policy, we already reduced to 20%."
Orbos said the "no-window hours" policy has been effective, with travel time reduced by 10 to 15 minutes.
Banned twice a week?
The current 2-digit coding scheme bans vehicles based on the last digit of their license plates from Mondays to Fridays, from 7 am to 8 pm. For example, vehicles with plate numbers ending in 1 and 2 are banned every Monday.
If the 3-digit scheme is approved, vehicles with plate numbers ending in 3 will also be banned on Mondays; those ending with 4, 5 and 6 will be banned on Tuesdays, and so on.
Police Superintendent Norberto V. Babagay of the Philippine Nation Police-Highway Patrol Group pointed out, however, that if this is followed, plate numbers ending in 0 to 5 will be banned twice in a week under the proposed scheme.
"Kung isang araw, 1, 2 at 3, may maluluging numero at the end," said Babagay claiming it is unfair for some motorists. (If for one day, plates ending with 1, 2 and 3 are banned, some car owners will be put at a disadvantage in the end.)
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