MMDA: No need to return to regular coding

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority has recently announced that it does not see the need for the regular number coding scheme to return. This comes after its initial announcement that it was planning to resume the number coding scheme during the morning rush hour thus returning things to normal.

In addition, this announcement also comes after the National Capital Region was placed under the most lenient Alert Level 1 status, which allows the public transportation system to return to 100 percent capacity and freer intra- and interzonal travel.

The government agency also stated that even under Alert Level 1, it has recorded fewer vehicles traversing EDSA compared to what it had previously recorded under Alert Level 2.

Based on the data that the MMDA has, 367,535 vehicles have been recorded to have passed through EDSA on March 1 at the start of Alert Level 1. This is comparatively lower compared to the 372,528 that the government agency recorded during the first day of implementation of Alert Level 2. Even the speed of vehicles traveling along EDSA was the same despite the changes in alert levels.

MMDA Chairman Romando Artes has noted that traffic congestion along EDSA usually occurs between 7 AM to 9 AM and from 5 PM to 8 PM. During these hours congestion does not last long and eases immediately after. With that said, this is also why the government agency does not see the need to further expand the coding scheme.

As it currently stands, the current number coding scheme lasts from 5 PM to 8 PM and is implemented on weekdays except for holidays for private vehicles. Just like before public buses and jeepneys are still exempt from this scheme and trucks are still banned from plying along EDSA except for those who are carrying essential goods.