Motorists, beware.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has started penalizing motorists violating the number coding scheme following a three-day dry-run of the policy.
As of 12 noon Thursday, at least 370 drivers were apprehended and given citation tickets by MMDA traffic enforcers along major thoroughfares. Of the number, 147 were caught along the busy street of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA).
The agency’s closed circuit television cameras used for non-contact apprehension also captured 146 vehicles violating the rule.
During the first day of the dry-run, a total of 1,588 violators were flagged down but no penalties were imposed against them, and were just reminded about the resumption of the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP)—commonly known as number coding.
From Aug. 18 onwards, a fine of P300 will be meted to violators.
The policy is being enforced in the National Capital Region effective August 15, from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays except holidays.
Under the scheme, vehicles with license plates ending in 1 and 2 are prohibited on Monday, 3 and 4 on Tuesday, 5 and 6 on Wednesday, 7 and 8 on Thursday, 9 and 0 on Friday during the said coding hours.
The MMDA reactivated the campaign to ease traffic in the metropolis amid the expected upsurge in the volume of vehicles upon the resumption of face-to-face classes on Aug. 22.
MMDA Traffic Engineering Center (TEC) director Neomie Recio said they were still monitoring the flow of traffic and the number of vehicles.
“We’re still in the process of evaluating the volume count and the travel speed survey. But based on our command center monitoring thru CCTV, the queue of southbound vehicles is shorter, same from Guadalupe to Buendia Ave. The real evaluation will be based on the data obtained by TEC,” Recio said.
“This was our initial assessment and we don’t have the numbers yet, to be scientific,” she added.
The MMDA recently proposed two possible changes to its UVVRP.
One option seeking a 50-percent volume reduction calls for vehicles with license plates ending in even numbers banned along major roads on Tuesdays and Fridays, while plates ending with odd numbers are banned on Mondays and Thursdays.
The other option is a 40-percent reduction plan wherein vehicles will be barred in the metropolis two days a week with a varied schedule based on their license plate.
Both options will only be implemented during rush hours—morning from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and evening from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The MMDA was also coordinating with the public transportation sector and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board on the possible reopening of old and new public transportation routes.