Number coding”s window hours will stay – MMDA

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Thursday said that the window hours of its number coding traffic scheme will not be lifted.

In a public briefing, MMDA acting chairman Romando Artes said the decision to retain the window hours is to ensure that vehicles will not pile up or spill over on the roads during rush hour.

“Mas mabuti na po siguro na may window hour para iyon pong ating mga kababayan na covered ng number coding iyong sasakyan ay lumabas lamang during window period at iyong after po ng oras ng coding, kaysa lahat po iyan ay magbaka-sakali na hindi naman po namin kayang hulihin dahil nga po walang NCAP (No Contact Apprehension),” said Artes.

(It would be better if we have window hours so people whose vehicles are covered by number coding are only allowed during the window period and afterwards, instead of them running the risk of being apprehended since MMDA can no longer do that in the absence of NCAP.)

Under the MMDA’s currrent coding scheme, the window hours are from 10:01 a.m. to 4:59 p.m. from Monday to Friday.

Artes added the protocol benefits citizens with only one car, and that it would also help in managing traffic during the Christmas rush.

To help mitigate road traffic during the holiday season, the MMDA has implemented policies to suspend non-essential or non-priority roadwork, adjustments of mall hours and regulation of mall-wide sales and deliveries. 

“Among others, ito po iyong mga policies po na ating inilatag bilang paghahanda at ganoon din po sa aming enforcers in-extend na po natin iyan hanggang alas-dose ng gabi iyong duty po ng ating mga enforcers,” he said.

 (These are the policies we have implemented in preparation and our traffic enforcers will be on duty until midnight.) 

EDSA Bus Lane update

Meanwhile, fewer vehicles have been apprehended using the EDSA Bus Lane since the implementation of increased penalties for violators.

“Noong nagsimula po tayo ng operation sa increased penalty, nagsimula po iyan 500 plus iyong nahuli maghapon. Ngayon po ay nasa 100 plus na lamang per day,” said the acting MMDA chair.

(When we began imposing the increased penalty, we had a daily average of 500 apprehensions. It’s now down to 100 plus per day.)

“Tuluy-tuloy po iyong operations natin hanggang sa eventually and hopefully, bumaba po nang bumaba [ang mga nahuhuli] at ma-realize ng ating mga kababayan na hindi po talaga dapat gamitin itong busway kung hindi sila awtorisado,” he added.

(Our operations will continue until eventually and hopefully, the number of violators will decrease and motorists realize they should not be using the busway if they are not authorized.) 

The MMDA head reiterated that only the top 5 government officials, which are the President, Vice President, Senate President, Speaker of the House, and Chief Justice, are allowed to use the bus lanes.—RF, GMA Integrated News