MMDA exempts provincial buses from number coding

MANILA, Philippines - Public provincial buses have been exempted from the unified vehicular volume reduction program (UVVRP) by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Wednesday and on December 29.

MMDA chairman Emerson Carlos said the exempted provincial buses comprise 20 percent or 660 units of the 3,000 provincial buses that enter Metro Manila everyday.

Carlos said the exemption of provincial buses from the UVVRP would allow more commuters to leave the metropolis for the provinces during the holiday rush.

“Para may mobility ang mga uuwi at babalik sa mga provinces,” said Carlos.

Meanwhile, the MMDA is warning motorists to brace for heavy traffic on Wednesday with people rushing to the various malls and shopping areas for last minute shopping.

Carlos said vehicles amassed in areas around shopping establishments affect major thoroughfares such as EDSA especially during rush hours.

The MMDA and 15 major shopping malls earlier signed a manifesto to extend mall operating hours and help ease traffic in December, agreeing to operate major malls from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. from December 1 to January 3.

Robinsons malls, SM Malls, Ayala Malls, Shangri-La Plaza, Farmers Plaza, Gateway Mall, Greenfield Development Corp., Eastwood City, The Podium, Eton Centris and Walter Mart malls agreed to extend operating hours.

"This has been a yearly practice for us to sign this agreement in order to ease vehicular and pedestrian traffic during the holiday season," Carlos said.