MMDA: No number coding exemptions for now

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

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has suspended indefinitely the issuance of exemptions to the number coding system pending a review of the traffic policy.

MMDA officer in charge and general manager Tim Orbos said on Saturday that the review was necessary because of a surge in applications from private motorists in recent months.

According to him, given the sudden increase in vehicles in Metro Manila, the granting of exemptions “might defeat the purpose” of the number coding scheme. However, he did not say how many applications the MMDA has received.

Under the traffic scheme officially known as the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP), among those who can apply for exemption are media personnel using their private cars for work, medical practitioners responding to emergency cases and owners of vehicles ferrying individuals in need of immediate medical attention. Automatically exempted are emergency vehicles and government service and diplomatic vehicles, among others.

Under the UVVRP, vehicles with license plates ending in 1 and 2 are banned on the road on Monday; 3 and 4 every Tuesday; 5 and 6 on Wednesday; 7 and 8 on Thursday; and 9 and 0 on Friday. –Jovic Yee