Vehicles carrying relief goods exempt from number coding, truck ban

MANILA, Philippines - Trucks carrying relief goods were given yesterday a one-day exemption from the truck ban and the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program or number coding scheme.            

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Francis Tolentino said the exemption would facilitate the ongoing relief and rehabilitation efforts in areas worst hit by floods brought by storm-enhanced monsoon rains this week.

“For the entire day, trucks ferrying relief goods to and from evacuation centers and areas affected by the calamity throughout Metro Manila and nearby provinces are exempted from the implementation of truck ban and number coding,” Tolentino said.

He said the exemption covers all types of trucks and other heavy vehicles commissioned by government agencies, local government units, and private organizations involved in relief operations.

The modified truck ban policy is implemented from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., and from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily except Sundays and holidays.

The number coding scheme bans vehicles on major thoroughfares once a week depending on the last digit of their license plate number.