MMDA eyes 3-digit coding scheme

MANILA, Philippines – The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is considering adopting a suggestion by House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez to enforce a three-digit number coding scheme for the holidays, an official said yesterday.

MMDA officer-in-charge Tim Orbos said the Metro Manila Council (MMC) and the Inter-Agency Council on Traffic (IACT) will convene tomorrow to discuss the proposal.

Orbos’ statement came after Suarez suggested to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to temporarily impose a three-digit number coding scheme from Mondays to Fridays and a two-digit coding scheme on Saturdays and Sundays during the Christmas season.

Suarez said the new number coding scheme should be in effect from next month “until the end of the Three Kings celebration” in January next year.

Orbos, on the other hand, believes Suarez’s suggestion might help decrease the number of vehicles in the metropolis by 30 to 40 percent.

However, he said the MMDA will conduct a thorough study to determine the extent of the reduction of vehicles on the streets should this scheme be implemented.

Orbos also said they will draw up guidelines on the three-digit number coding scheme if the MMC and IACT agree to the proposal.

The current number coding scheme involves two digits and is lifted on weekends and holidays.

The MMDA earlier imposed an expanded no window hours policy for the number coding scheme in a bid to decongest EDSA and other major roads in the metropolis.