The planned removal of number coding window hours will not be enforced within the year, according to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), which has announced its traffic-management plans for the upcoming holiday season.
The agency will enforce number coding from 7am to 10am and from 5pm to 8pm in areas under its jurisdiction. From 10:01am to 4:59pm, cars that are banned for the day under the number coding rules may be used. Remember that select cities—notably Makati City—enforce their own number coding schemes. Earlier this month, the change in number coding rules for former Makati City barangays that are now under Taguig City took effect.
The MMDA says it is delaying the removal of window hours for the convenience of motorists during the holidays. “Ito rin po ay bilang pagtingin sa ating mga kababayan na iisa ang sasakyan na magamit yung kanilang sasakyan kahit covered ng number coding scheme sa particular na araw,” said acting chairman Atty. Romando Artes.
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Apart from this and the imposition of higher fines for EDSA Busway violators, the MMDA is also enforcing a temporary suspension of excavating works on Metro Manila main roads until January 8, and has activated a 76-man ‘strike force’ against illegal parking.
“Sila po ay gagamit ng body-worn cameras para may ebidensya po na illegally parked yung mga sasakyan at gagamit naman po ng handheld ticketing device para mabilis ang pag-issue ng ticket,” said Artes.
The unit will be divided into teams of four to five enforcers that will visit around 10 areas per day. “Kung ang iniisip niyo ay, ‘Napuntahan naman ako kahapon o [nung] isang linggo, ang balik na ng MMDA ay mga three months after,’ ngayon po hindi na yan mangyayari,” Artes warned. “Kahit every week, kaya namin kayo balikan.”
Finally, malls hours in Metro Manila have been adjusted to manage traffic congestion in the vicinity of major shopping establishments during peak hours. Malls open at 11am and may close as late as 11pm, while mall deliveries may only be scheduled from 11pm to 5am. The duty hours of MMDA traffic enforcers have also been extended until midnight.
