MMDA suspends coding scheme exemptions

MANILA, Philippines - Overwhelmed by the number of applicants seeking exemption from the number coding scheme, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has temporarily suspended the issuance of exemptions beginning Monday. 

“We have to revisit the policies on the exemptions under the UVVRP (number coding scheme) because this might defeat the purpose of reducing the number of cars on the roads,” MMDA officer-in-charge Tim Orbos said. 

He said his office needs to re-evaluate the existing policies in giving exemptions. The MMDA has received hundreds of applications since they started accepting applications for exemption to the number coding scheme last year. 

In December last year, the MMDA widened the coverage of the number coding scheme in a bid to decongest the entire stretch of EDSA and in some major thoroughfares. 

It has also suspended the 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. window hours until Jan. 31. 

Since then, the MMDA has opened its agency to accept applications for exemption, but Orbos said it is subject to evaluation and only in consideration of exceptional humanitarian reasons. 

He also reminded the public of a memorandum circular of the MMDA that allows automatic exemption without the need for an exemption certificate. 

Under the memorandum circular, vehicles carrying persons needing immediate medical attention, official and marked media vehicles among others are automatically exempted from the number coding scheme. 

The number coding scheme is one of the MMDA’s traffic measures that aims to alleviate traffic in Metro Manila. 

For vehicles with license plates ending in numbers one and two are prohibited on major thoroughfares every Monday; three and four every Tuesday; five and six every Wednesday; seven and eight every Thursday; and nine and zero every Friday. 

It is lifted during weekends and on regular holidays.