Window hours in number coding scheme to be suspended starting October 17

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said the Inter-Agency Council on Traffic (I-ACT) would suspend the “window hours” in the number coding scheme starting October 17 to reduce the volume of vehicles.

The suspension of window hours would be implemented on EDSA, C5, Alabang-Zapote Road, Roxas Boulevard, and Mandaluyong City. Currently, Makati and Las Pinas do not implement window hours.

As a review, the window hours run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. wherein affected vehicles are allowed to travel without being apprehended. MMDA claims that the removal of window hours would yield a 20-percent vehicle reduction in EDSA.     

With this, the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) and the MMDA would hold a dry run on October 12 to 14. This is to inform motorists that the window hours would no longer be in effect starting next Monday (October 17). HPG and MMDA traffic enforcers would not issue tickets to motorists who violate the said rule during the 3-day dry run.

In an interview on ABS-CBN’s morning news show Umagang Kay Ganda, MMDA Chairman Tim Orbos said that the suspension of the window hours is the agency’s attempt to adhere to the expected rise of vehicle volume during the holiday season.

As of this writing, Orbos added that the suspension of the window hours would be until January 31, 2017. MMDA would, later on, announce if the said rule will be permanent, depending on the result.