THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) started on Wednesday the reimplementation of the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP) or number coding scheme during rush hour in the afternoon on Mondays to Fridays, from 5pm to 8pm, except holidays.

This was after the Metro Manila Council (MMC) approved a resolution on the implementation of the calibrated traffic mitigation measures in the National Capital Region (NCR) aimed to avoid a traffic management crisis in the future.

According to MMDA Resolution No. 21-30, per the recent travel survey and analysis which was conducted by the MMDA Traffic Engineering Center, including vehicle volume count, travel time and travel speed study, and average daily traffic rate, it was determined that the current traffic situation is approaching the pre-pandemic levels.

In a press conference held on Tuesday at the MMDA headquarters in Makati City, MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalos said the resumption of the number coding scheme in the metropolis will only cover private vehicles. Vehicles with plates ending in 1 and 2 are prohibited on Monday, 3 and 4 on Tuesday, 5 and 6 on Wednesday, 7 and 8 on Thursday, 9 and 0 on Friday.

Exempted from the modified UVVRP are public utility vehicles (including tricycles), transport network vehicle services (TNVS), motorcycles, garbage trucks, fuel trucks, motor vehicles carrying essential and/or perishable goods.

“Data shows that the travel speed along the northbound portion of EDSA is 9.66 kilometers per hour. Hence, we have to reinstate the number coding scheme during the afternoon rush hours to address the problem. We are trying to exhaust all options here,” Abalos stressed.

“The solution to this problem is efficient traffic management and mass transport system.”

For her part, Neomie Recio, MMDA Traffic Discipline Office director, said approximately 2,700 vehicles per hour will be reduced plying EDSA alone.

Meanwhile, Abalos said the light trucks ban along EDSA will be reimplemented, also with modification.

Based on the UVVRP motor vehicle plate endings, light trucks shall be prohibited to ply EDSA between Magallanes, Makati City and North Avenue, Quezon City, both northbound and southbound, from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. from Mondays to Fridays, except holidays.

“Light trucks” refer to motor vehicles, whether for commercial use or not, with a gross capacity weight of 4,500 kilograms or below and/or having six (6) or more tires, the payload area of which are either enclosed or open.

Meanwhile, the total truck ban policy along EDSA between Magallanes, Makati City and North Avenue, Quezon City, both northbound and southbound, shall remain and be strictly enforced with the exception of garbage trucks, fuel trucks, and trucks carrying essential and/or perishable goods. On the other hand, the truck ban hours in the NCR shall remain suspended until further notice.

“Trucks” refer to motor vehicles, whether for commercial use or not, with a gross capacity weight of above 4,500 kilograms.

The MMC, composed of the 17 local government units of Metro Manila, is the governing body and policy-making body of the MMDA.