If you’ve been driving around Metro Manila for years, I probably don’t need to explain to you what MMDA’s Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program, aka number coding, means. What you’re probably interested to know is that it’s not unified at all. Different Metro Manila cities have different implementations of the scheme and some don’t even follow it at all.
So, here are things you probably didn’t know about the “Number Coding Scheme” that could make a huge difference in your travel plans.
1. There’s a window of opportunity. The number coding is suspended in most places from 10am to 3pm, except in the cities of Makati and Las Piñas where it’s always in effect from 7am to 7pm. In Pasig City, motorists enjoy an extended window because coding is suspended from (9am to 4pm). However, in Parañaque City there is no 10am to 3pm window for the following roads: San Antonio Ave, Pres. Aguinaldo St., Dominique Savio St., Japan St., Michael Rua St., and Francis St., Doña Soledad Extension and Doña Ave. in Barangay don Bosco, E. Rodriguez St. in Barangay Moonwalk, East Service Road from Dr. Santos Ave. up to FTI Parañaque area, and West Service Road from Dr. Santos Ave. up to Merville Park Subdivision Parañaque area. All these road names may be a handful to remember, but if you’re from the area, you probably know them by heart.
2. There’s always an exception to the rule. The cities of Marikina and Muntinlupa do not implement the number coding scheme completely. In Taguig city, the coding scheme is not implemented in its internal roads, but implemented in the national roads that are within its boundaries such as C5 Road, East Service Road and Manuel L. Quezon Road. Meanwhile, the City of Pasay grants number coding exemptions on the following roads: Ninoy Aquino Ave., MIA Road, Domestic Road, Airport Road, Sales Road, and portions of Buendia.
3. There’s more than one way to get an exemption. Vehicles who carry persons who are in need of immediate medical attentions are automatically exempted. Meanwhile, Makati City grants exemption to senior citizens who have the BLU card program. All they have to do is flash their blue card and they automatically get a wave off from the Makati police. Alternatively you could get yourself a medical license, because apparently doctors need only to apply for an exemption from the MMDA office. Additionally, an easier way to get exempted is to get a motorcycle as they’re totally excluded from the scheme as if they don’t take up space on the road.
We’ve all been inconvenienced by this scheme, but they say it’s a necessary evil to help ease Metro Manila traffic, and all we can do is work around it. But knowing what you know now, at least makes it easier to plan your trips ahead so that this coding scheme can have the least impact in your daily duties.
