MMDA prepares to enforce 'number coding' on buses

MANILA, Philippines - The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will deploy around 1,800 traffic enforcers to ensure the smooth implementation of the “number coding” scheme on public utility buses along EDSA and along the metro’s major thoroughfares starting this Monday.

As part of the preparations, MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino yesterday ordered the cancellation of leaves and day-offs of all of the agency’s traffic personnel.

“It’s all systems go on Monday. We will be issuing traffic violation tickets to offenders as we have informed the bus operators regarding the re-implementation of the scheme beforehand and they all agreed so there will be no excuse and nobody will be spared,” Tolentino said in a statement.

Tolentino said signs have been installed along the major thoroughfares and along the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and along the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) advising bus drivers that the number coding or the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP) for PUBs will be in effect starting Nov. 15.

According to the MMDA, around 13,000 PUBs, provincial and city are covered by the scheme. More than 1,000 of these vehicles will be affected by the UVVRP scheme daily. Unlike for private vehicles, there are no “window hours” between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. for PUBs during their respective “number coding” days.

Meanwhile, Tolentino said the Philippine National Police has agreed to lend some of its buses to the MMDA to complement the agency’s own five buses in ferrying passengers of buses caught violating the UVVRP.

The PNP and MMDA buses, according to Tolentino, will transport the passengers from the exits of the NLEX and SLEX to the respective terminals of the apprehended buses.

Tolentino said buses caught violating the number coding will be impounded at the agency’s holding area along White Plains Avenue in Quezon City. The buses will only be released after 7 p.m.

Tolentino said he has received reports that several provincial bus firms have threatened to defy the MMDA, but he said they will just “detain their drivers and conductors and hold their buses until 7 (p.m.).”

PUBs were originally covered by UVVRP but bus operators sought and secured an exemption from Malacañang on 2004.

Under the number coding scheme, city and provincial buses whose license plate numbers end in 1 and 2 are banned from using EDSA and major roads on Mondays; 3 and 4 (Tuesdays); 5 and 6 (Wednesdays); 7 and 8 (Thursdays) and 9 and 0 (Fridays).