MMDA, Skyway issue traffic advisories

The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced yesterday the automatic lifting of its Unified Vehicle Volume Reduction Program, better known as the number coding scheme, from Dec. 25 to Jan. 4, 2009.

MMDA general manager Robert Nacianceno said the coding scheme is automatically lifted on regular, special and non-working holidays and is not enforced on weekends.

“That means the number coding scheme is lifted until Jan. 2, 2009 but motorists will enjoy it until Jan. 4, which is a Sunday,” he told The STAR.

The MMDA will also deploy traffic enforcers along major roads due to the expected increase in the number of vehicles.

Meanwhile, the southbound lane of Roxas Boulevard from Katigbak Drive to P. Ocampo Avenue (formerly Vito Cruz) shall be closed to vehicular traffic starting at 1 p.m. tomorrow to give way to the 34th Metro Manila Film Festival parade, the Manila District Traffic Enforcement Unit announced yesterday.

Superintendent Roberto dela Rosa said all motorists intending to use the southbound lane of Roxas Boulevard should turn left on P. Burgos, right on Ma. Orosa, right on T. M. Kalaw, left on M. H. del Pilar and continue to their destination.

Motorists can also use the southbound lane of Taft Avenue as an alternative route, De la Rosa added.

There was no information on what time the closed portion of Roxas Boulevard will open to traffic.

On the other hand, the Skyway Operations & Maintenance Corp. (SOMCO) announced it will not collect fees from motorists who will use the Skyway system’s Magallanes-Alabang at-grade and Buendia-Bicutan elevated sections from 10 p.m. on Dec. 24 until 6 a.m. on Dec. 25; and from 10 p.m. on Dec. 31 until 6 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2009.

This move would also allow Skyway’s first-shift frontline employees a chance to spend Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve with their families, officials said.

SOMCO also advised all users who manually load their e-pass, that from Dec. 24 up to Jan. 2, 2009, they can replenish their e-pass accounts only at the e-pass customer service center (CSC) of the Skyway Complex on Doña Soledad Avenue, Barangay Don Bosco in Parañaque City.

The E-Pass CSC will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 24, 26, 29 and 30; from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Dec. 27; and from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Jan. 2, 2009.

– Michael Punongbayan, Nestor Etolle, Rhodina Villanueva