Pasig kicks off odd-even scheme

AN LTO ENFORCER flags down a pickup without a license plate on Edsa in Cubao, Quezon City, on the first day of the implementation of the agency’s “no plate, no travel” policy. Violators face up to P10,000 in fines on top of the impounding of their vehicles. LEO M. SABANGAN II

After a three-month experimental period, Pasig City will start strictly implementing the odd-even scheme on selected roads today with violators facing a P500 fine.

Covered by the policy which aims to ease traffic in the city are F. Legazpi Bridge in Barangay Maybunga, Greenwoods and Sandoval Avenues in Barangay Pinagbuhatan, and San Guillermo Road in Barangay Buting.

Vehicles with plate numbers ending in 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 will be allowed to pass through these roads on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

On the other hand, vehicles with plate numbers ending in 2, 4, 6, 8 and 0 can use these roads on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

Victor Barral, head duty officer of the Pasig City Traffic and Parking Management Office, said the odd-even scheme would be in effect from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. based on Ordinance No. 23 series of 2016, or the ordinance approving the revised traffic and parking management code. There will be no window hours.

According to the ordinance, the traffic measure would be lifted on Sundays and official holidays. Violators would be required to pay a P500 fine, Barral added.

Mayor Robert Eusebio, meanwhile, said that affected private vehicles would be allowed to use the roads covered by the odd-even scheme but only when these are ferrying students to schools.

He made the clarification in a Facebook post announcing the traffic measure’s implementation which drew mostly negative reactions.

One commenter observed that the odd-even scheme’s implementing hours were too long, extending until 10 p.m. compared to the Metro-wide counterpart which was in effect only until 8 p.m.

“What you should do is stop double parking and [go after] colorum tricycle drivers,” Antonio Cuanan said.

Joel Pangilinan, in his comment on Facebook, asked the city government to consider putting in window hours as some motorists own just one vehicle.

Another asked the city government to present the findings during the experimental period to determine whether or not the scheme was effective in easing traffic.

Van Louvre Nava also took issue with the long implementing hours and asked officials to come up with alternative routes for motorists. –Jodee A. Agoncillo