Permanent coding eyed in Makati

Regardless of the outcome of the ongoing experiment on the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP), the Makati City Council plans to impose a permanent "coding" scheme for both private and public vehicles in the entire city.

"While its implementation may no longer be necessary in other parts of Metro Manila, the need for the UVVRP in Makati is imperative as before due to the high volume of motor vehicles on roads during daytime," the council said.

Under Draft Ordinance 2003-010 authored by Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado and members of the city council, all public and private vehicles, including motorcycles, would be banned from all national and city roads within the jurisdiction of Makati from Monday to Friday.

Considered automatically exempted from the planned Makati UVVRP are ambulances, firetrucks, police patrol cars, military vehicles on official functions; vehicles with diplomatic plates; government vehicles with government plates or appropriate LTO stickers or markings expressly showing the name of the agency or office; duly enfranchised school buses and company shuttle service vehicles; official media vehicles with markings expressly showing their company; accredited tow trucks ; vehicles delivering perishable goods; vehicles used by medical practitioners in an emergency; and vehicles on a mission to carry relief goods. – Marvin Sy