MMDA eyes 2-day coding scheme anew

MANILA, Philippines — Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Danilo Lim wants to revive the proposed two-day number coding scheme to significantly reduce the number of private vehicles in the metropolis.

In a forum last Thursday, Lim said he will seek the approval of the Metro Manila Council, which will meet next month, to consider implementing the two-day coding scheme. The MMC is the policy-making body of the MMDA. 

Under the current number-coding scheme, vehicles are banned only once a week. Those with license plates ending in 1 and 2 are prohibited on Mondays, 3 and 4 on Tuesdays, 5 and 6 on Wednesdays, 7 and 8 on Thursdays and 9 and 0 on Fridays.

Lim said there is a need to reduce the volume of vehicles in Metro Manila, noting that the road network did not get any wider over the past four decades. 

He said the idea to revive the proposed two-day scheme came a few days after the House of Representatives budget hearing for the MMDA. 

“Some of the congressmen were actually advocating that we revise our number coding scheme,“ Lim said, adding that the lawmakers even want to impose a three-day vehicle volume reduction system.

The idea to revise the number coding scheme was first introduced last June but did not push through after it got flak from the public transport groups and private motorists.