Parañaque to reimpose number coding scheme

MANILA, Philippines – Effective Oct. 1, the Parañaque City government will reimpose the unified vehicle volume reduction program or the number coding scheme on all roads in the city.

“There has been an increase in the volume of traffic in Parañaque for the past five years and it is unacceptable,” Mayor Edwin Olivarez said.

He also ordered the city government to fully implement the truck ban ordinance passed years ago.

In a resolution dated July 4, 2006, the city council suspended the implementation of the number coding scheme after hundreds of traders near the Ninoy Aquino International Airport objected to the traffic scheme, claiming they would lose income.

However, for the past three years, motorists and commuters have been experiencing heavy traffic in major thoroughfares of the city, particularly during rush hour, due to various government construction projects in Parañaque and neighboring cities, according to public information chief Mar Jimenez.

Like other cities in Metro Manila, the number coding scheme for private cars will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. while the truck ban will be enforced from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Jimenez said.