Makati to enforce coding on Holy Tuesday, Wednesday

MANILA, Philippines - Although the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has lifted the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP) or “number coding” for Holy Tuesday and Holy Wednesday, Makati City will still enforce the scheme on those days.

Makati public safety chief Hermenegildo San Miguel said the UVVRP will only be suspended in the city on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.

San Miguel said the UVVRP cannot be lifted on Holy Tuesday and Holy Wednesday as these are considered regular working days. The UVVRP is only suspended on weekends and public holidays.

“As a policy, Makati lifts the number coding scheme on official holidays and weekends only. With an average of over 700,000 vehicles passing through the city roads on weekdays, suspending the UVVRP on Tuesday and Wednesday will only worsen the traffic situation in the city,” San Miguel said.

Under the scheme, vehicles with plate numbers ending in 3 and 4 are barred from city roads from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays; on Wednesdays, it covers those with plate numbers ending in 5 and 6.  The 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. window is not observed in Makati.

However, San Miguel said motorists covered by the scheme may use C-5 Road, EDSA and Osmeña Highway in going through Makati.

San Miguel also reminded motorists to obey the city’s traffic rules because these will be strictly enforced by the Department of Public Safety, the Makati Police and deputized barangay traffic enforcers.

MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino said the four-day suspension of the UVVRP will provide motorists unhampered mobility while going to and from the provinces during the Lenten season.

“We’re expecting that public transport terminals will have their hands full accommodating thousands of commuters. By allowing the public to freely use their vehicles, this will help lessen the strain on them,” Tolentino said.

Meanwhile, as the MMDA expects a heavy flow of vehicles going out of Metro Manila during the Holy Week, Tolentino has advised the public to avoid EDSA and instead use the alternate  or “mabuhay” lanes.