Medical frontliners exempted from number coding under GCQ

MANILA, Philippines — Medical frontliners are exempted from the number coding scheme once the general community quarantine or GCQ is in place by June, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced yesterday.

MMDA general manager Jojo Garcia said frontliners may use their vehicles without being apprehended under the modified number coding system.

“We understand the plight of health workers. So we want to assist them during this difficult times. We hope that by exempting them from the number coding scheme, we are helping to provide convenience to their daily transport,” Garcia said.

Under the modified number coding system, motorists may be allowed to go out even during coding as long as there are two passengers.

Garcia said while Metro Manila mayors did not recommend the resumption of buses and jeepneys under GCQ, there are plans to install a single bus lane along EDSA near the Metro Rail Transit Line 3.

Under the single bus lane scheme, the number of buses plying EDSA will be reduced from 2,500 before the pandemic to 600 post-quarantine.

Buses will have a faster turnaround because of the single route system on EDSA, which will serve as a “connector” road to other major thoroughfares in the metropolis, Garcia said.

He said bus operators would still  earn under the single route scheme even if they operate at 50 percent capacity in compliance with social distancing measure.

Garcia said the MMDA is also planning to build an elevated bicycle lane 1 to 1.5 meters wide along EDSA just beside the pedestrian lane.