Coding-free summer starts today

The Metropolitan Manila’s Development Authority has announced that its Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP), or number coding scheme, is temporarily suspended starting today on major thoroughfares and secondary streets in the metropolis.

Owners of private and public utility vehicles, regardless of the last digit of their license plates, can use most major roads seven days a week without fear of apprehension until June 2, when school opens.

The MMDA, through the Metro Manila Council (MMC), its policy-making body, has approved MMDA Resolution 06-04 temporarily lifting the UVVRP after studies showed that vehicular volume would be significantly reduced during the school break.

Except for five voting MMC members, majority of Metro Manila mayors approved the resolution, which gives them the option to request the re-implementation of the UVVRP should the traffic situation get out of hand in their respective areas.

As of this writing, Mayors Jejomar Binay of Makati City, Lito Atienza of Manila and Jaime Fresnedi of Muntinlupa City, have yet to sign the resolution.

The MMDA said it was also waiting for Vice Mayors League president Herbert Bautista and Councilors’ League president Edward Tan to sign the resolution.

Atienza announced the other day that the coding scheme in the country’s capital would be lifted for the entire duration of the school vacation.

"We have gathered more than the majority of the mayors to back the temporary lifting of the number coding scheme. This is implementation with consensus," MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando said.

During last Thursday’s regular meeting of the MMC, Fernando recommended the temporary suspension of the number coding as recent surveys conducted by the agency’s traffic engineering center on five major thoroughfares showed that the traffic volume has been reduced by an average of 32.23 percent, a common trend during summer break.

The MMDA chief is also considering the total lifting of the UVVRP because vehicles tend to crowd the major roads and alternate routes during "window hours."

The window hours refer to the time where banned vehicles are allowed on the streets between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.