No number coding for Holy Week – MMDA

MANILA, Philippines — The number coding traffic scheme will be suspended for the long Holy Week weekend, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said yesterday.

The scheme, also called the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program, will be lifted from April 6, Maundy Thursday, until April 10, which President Marcos declared as a holiday in observance of Araw ng Kagitingan, which is traditionally observed on April 9. This year, the Day of Valor falls on a Sunday.

The MMDA currently enforces number coding on select major roads in the metropolis – including EDSA, C-5 Road and Commonwealth Avenue – on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Number coding is not enforced on weekends.

The MMDA as well as the Department of Transportation, Department of Public Works and Highways, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, Inter-Agency Council for Traffic, Land Transportation Office, Philippine National Police and local government units will also create a multi-agency command center that will monitor transport terminals in Metro Manila during the Holy Week exodus from April 3 (Holy Monday) to 6, according to acting MMDA Chairman Romando Artes.

“Through this inter-agency action center, we can monitor real-time updates on bus terminals across Metro Manila to ensure safer travel of the commuting public and orderly traffic flow in our roads as we observe the Holy Week,” he said.

As part of its “Oplan Metro Alalay Semana Santa 2023,” the MMDA will also deploy a total of 2,104 field personnel to ensure smooth vehicular traffic and guide commuters at Metro Manila’s entry and exit points, as well as popular churches.