Number coding in Metro Manila

Last updated

The Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP), commonly called number coding or color coding, is a road space rationing program in the Philippines that aims to reduce traffic congestion, in particular during peak hours, by restricting the types of vehicles that can use major public roads based on the final digit of the vehicle's license plate. First implemented in 1995 in Metro Manila, the similar programs has also been implemented in the cities of Baguio, Cabanatuan, and Dagupan and the province of Cavite.

Contents

History

The Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program was the culmination of two plans devised in the mid-1990s to help resolve the issue of heavy traffic congestion in Metro Manila, which by then was the subject of much complaint among motorists, by restricting the number of vehicles on the road. Although it was first implemented in 1995, the UVVRP in its current form dates back to 1996.

The traffic situation in Metro Manila and initial impetus (1995)

The original UVVRP was conceived by Col. Romeo Maganto, who served as the executive director of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority's traffic management office. [1] First implemented in October 1995 on an experimental basis, to address the traffic congestion caused by the construction of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) on Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA), [2] it initially targeted public utility vehicles, later expanding to all vehicles plying EDSA, where traffic congestion in Metro Manila was at its heaviest. [1] Vehicles covered under the original UVVRP were banned from EDSA for the entire day based on the last digit of a vehicle's license plate, similar to the current UVVRP. [3]

On November 6, 1995, upon the urging of public transport groups, Maganto expanded the UVVRP to include all vehicles on most Metro Manila roads in an attempt to prevent rat running, which caused private vehicular traffic to use secondary roads alongside jeepneys. By this time, of the estimated 1.1 million motor vehicles then plying city roads, around 70 percent of those vehicles — which numbered around 800,000 — were private vehicles, and the MMDA was under pressure to resolve Metro Manila's worsening traffic problems. The worsening traffic on secondary roads forced Maganto to implement a blanket ban on private vehicles as well, with the ban being implemented during rush hour from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. and 5:00–7:00 p.m. [1]

The UVVRP, however, at this time was still largely voluntary, and while it was implemented by Maganto's office, the program did not have a legal basis in Metro Manila law. Mayors, in particular Jejomar Binay of Makati, were leery of the program, accusing Maganto of circumventing the Metro Manila Council, which sets policy for the MMDA, and with Maganto even threatening to resign if mayors did not support the plan. This was compounded by the fact that Maganto's original scheme did not specify penalties for violations of the UVVRP, since penalties could only be imposed by the MMC. [4] Tensions came to a head on November 21, 1995, when Senator Vicente Sotto III had to appeal to Maganto and the mayors during a Senate hearing on the scheme to work together to resolve Metro Manila's traffic problems. [5]

This changed when on November 23, 1995, Chairman Prospero Oreta signed MMDA Regulation No. 95-001, which codified Maganto's scheme, and mandated that strict implementation of the program begin on December 1, 1995. The final version adopted by the MMDA combined elements of the original UVVRP and the partial ban implemented by Maganto for private vehicles, where vehicles with plate numbers ending in an odd number were to be barred from major streets in Metro Manila on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and vehicles with plate numbers ending in an even number were to barred on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. [6] No total ban was mandated in the version passed by the MMC. This was the subject of much confusion and criticism on the first day of implementation, with motorists claiming that the new scheme did not significantly reduce traffic congestion, unlike Maganto's original scheme. [6]

Return to the original UVVRP (1996–2003)

Although the UVVRP was implemented in the manner specified in MMDA Regulation 95-001, the original UVVRP was reimplemented in early 1996, with Maganto announcing a twelve-hour ban on vehicles plying EDSA depending on the final digit of the vehicle's license plate. Originally imposed due to rehabilitation works on the Guadalupe Bridge, the start of three major road projects resulted in the ban being extended to September in order to reduce the number of vehicles using EDSA to go around affected roads in inner Manila, coexisting alongside the odd-even UVVRP which was implemented on all other roads. [7]

COVID-19 pandemic

The program was suspended in Metro Manila from March 13, 2020 to November 30, 2021 during the community quarantines due to the COVID-19 pandemic, [8] [9] except in Makati, where a modified number coding scheme was being implemented, except on vehicles carrying two or more passengers and during weekends and holidays. [10]

The suspension was lifted on December 1, 2021, this time implementing a modified scheme. [11] All vehicles with banned motor vehicle plate endings under the UVVRP, except for public utility vehicles, transportation network vehicle services, motorcycles, garbage trucks, fuel trucks, and vehicles carrying essential and perishable goods and physicians with valid ID are covered in the modified scheme from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Mondays to Fridays, excluding holidays. Meanwhile, light trucks are prohibited from using EDSA between Magallanes, Makati and North Avenue, Quezon City from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. from Mondays to Fridays, excluding holidays. [12] [13] The scheme was later expanded to morning rush hours on August 15, 2022, from 7:00 to 10:00 a.m. from Mondays to Fridays, excluding holidays, by virtue of MMDA Resolution No. 22-14. [14]

The full number coding scheme in Makati was resumed on March 16, 2022, wherein all vehicles with banned motor vehicle plate endings under the UVVRP, except for vehicles that carry senior citizen BluCard holders and those traveling for official business or medical emergency, are covered in the scheme from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. from Mondays to Fridays, excluding holidays. [15] [16]

Current implementation

The following table shows which plate number endings are barred from traveling in Metro Manila:

Day of WeekPlates Ending in
Monday1, 2
Tuesday3, 4
Wednesday5, 6
Thursday7, 8
Friday9, 0

As of 2023, UVVRP is currently implemented as follows: [14] [17] [18] [19]

  1. Applies from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., from Mondays to Fridays, excluding holidays.
  2. Window hours from 10:01 a.m. to 4:59 p.m. Some differences apply for certain cities. See below.
  3. Applies to major roads, radial roads, and circumferential roads in Metro Manila.
  4. Not applied to expressways traversing Metro Manila.
  5. Motorcycles, electric vehicles, [20] public utility vehicles (PUV), transport network vehicle services (TNVS), garbage trucks, fuel trucks, marked government vehicles, marked media vehicles, emergency vehicles (e.g. fire trucks, ambulances), and motor vehicles carrying essential and/or perishable goods are exempted.

The following are city-specific implementations: [21] [22]

  1. Caloocan: No window hours along Samson Road
  2. Makati: Full number coding is applied from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. with no window hours from Mondays to Fridays, excluding holidays
    • Only vehicles carrying senior citizen BluCard holders, emergency vehicles, vehicles "under official functions," and electric vehicles are exempted. [15]
    • MMDA's number coding scheme is enforced on EDSA and Osmeña Highway.
  3. Malabon: UVVRP not implemented, however it is enforced on MacArthur Highway and C-4 Road
  4. Marikina: UVVRP not implemented, however it is enforced on Marcos Highway
  5. Muntinlupa: UVVRP not implemented, however it is enforced on Alabang–Zapote Road
  6. Navotas: UVVRP not implemented, however it is enforced on C-3 Road, C-4 Road, and Radial Road 10
  7. Parañaque: Vehicles with senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) are also exempted.
  8. Pasay: UVVRP not implemented only on the following roads:
  9. Pateros: UVVRP not implemented
  10. San Juan: Full number coding is applied from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. with window hours from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. from Mondays to Fridays, excluding holidays
  11. Taguig: UVVRP not implemented, however it is enforced on the following roads:
  12. Valenzuela: UVVRP not implemented, however it is enforced on the following roads:

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transportation in the Philippines</span> Overview of the transportation in the Philippines

Transportation in the Philippines covers the transportation methods within this archipelagic nation of over 7,500 islands. From a previously underdeveloped state of transportation, the government of the Philippines has been improving transportation through various direct infrastructure projects, and these include an increase in air, sea, road, and rail transportation and transport hubs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rush hour</span> Time of day with peak traffic congestion

A rush hour or peak hour is a part of the day during which traffic congestion on roads and crowding on public transport is at its highest. Normally, this happens twice every weekday: once in the morning and once in the afternoon or evening, the times during which most people commute. The term is often used for a period of peak congestion that may last for more than one hour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">EDSA</span> Limited-access circumferential highway around Metro Manila

Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, commonly referred to by its acronym EDSA, is a limited-access circumferential highway around Manila, the capital city of the Philippines. It passes through 6 of Metro Manila's 17 local government units or cities, namely, from north to south, Caloocan, Quezon City, San Juan, Mandaluyong, Makati, and Pasay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metropolitan Manila Development Authority</span> Philippine government agency responsible for Metro Manila region

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority is a government agency of the Philippines responsible for constituting the regional government of Metro Manila, comprising the capital city of Manila, the cities of Quezon City, Caloocan, Pasay, Mandaluyong, Makati, Pasig, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Las Piñas, Parañaque, Valenzuela, Malabon, Taguig, Navotas and San Juan, and the municipality of Pateros.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Road space rationing</span> Travel demand management strategy

Road space rationing, also known as alternate-day travel, driving restriction and no-drive days, is a travel demand management strategy aimed to reduce the negative externalities generated by urban air pollution or peak urban travel demand in excess of available supply or road capacity, through artificially restricting demand by rationing the scarce common good road capacity, especially during the peak periods or during peak pollution events. This objective is achieved by restricting traffic access into an urban cordon area, city center (CBD), or district based upon the last digits of the license number on pre-established days and during certain periods, usually, the peak hours.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transportation in Metro Manila</span> Overview of Metro Manilas transportation system

The transportation system in Metro Manila covers the road network, rail network, ferries, ports and airports located with the metropolitan Manila area. Road transportation in Metro Manila is diverse, composed of many types of private and public transport vehicles. These include taxis, buses, jeepneys, tricycles and pedicabs. In some areas, especially in Divisoria and large public markets, two-stroke motors are fitted in the pedicabs and are used for goods transport. Regardless of modernity, horse-drawn kalesas are still used in the streets of Binondo and Intramuros. Ridesharing services such as Grab also operate within in Metro Manila.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magallanes Interchange</span>

The Magallanes Interchange is a four-level partial turbine interchange in Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines, serving as the junction between the Osmeña Highway, Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA), and South Luzon Expressway (SLEX). It is also an interchange between the two train lines of Metro Manila, the MRT-3, which is over EDSA, and the PNR Metro Commuter Line beside Osmeña Highway and SLEX. It is currently one of the busiest intersections in Metro Manila.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quezon Avenue</span> Major road in Quezon City, Philippines

Manuel L. Quezon Avenue, more often called as Quezon Avenue, or simply Quezon Ave, is a 6.1-kilometer (3.8 mi) major thoroughfare in Metro Manila named after President Manuel Luis Quezon, the second president of the Philippines. The avenue starts at the Quezon Memorial Circle and runs through to the Welcome Rotonda near the boundary of Quezon City and Manila.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alabang–Zapote Road</span> Road in the Philippines

Alabang–Zapote Road is a four-lane national road which travels east–west through the southern limits of Metro Manila, Philippines. It runs parallel to Dr. Santos Avenue in the north and is named for the two barangays that it links: Alabang in the city of Muntinlupa and Zapote in both the cities of Bacoor and Las Piñas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ortigas Interchange</span>

The Ortigas Interchange, also known as the EDSA–Ortigas Interchange or the Ortigas Flyover, is a three-level partial stack interchange at the boundary between Mandaluyong and Quezon City in Metro Manila, the Philippines which serves as the junction between Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) and Ortigas Avenue. Originally a regular four-way intersection, the current interchange was built in 1991 as the flagship infrastructure project of President Corazon Aquino.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Makati Central Business District</span> Central Business District in Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines

The Makati Central Business District is a financial and central business district in the Philippines located in the heart of Makati in Metro Manila. It is politically known as "Central Cluster" in the West District of Makati. It is different from the Makati civic center known as "Makati Poblacion" which is situated at the northeast portion of the district. It is bounded by EDSA, Amorsolo Street, Ayala Avenue, Gil Puyat Avenue, Osmeña Highway, South Luzon Expressway, Metro Manila Skyway, Zobel Roxas Street, Ocampo Street, Metropolitan Avenue, Nicanor Garcia Street, Kalayaan Avenue, Makati Avenue, Anza Street, Polaris Street, Orion Street, Mercedes Street, Amapola Street and Estrella Street. The whole district occupies barangays of San Antonio, San Lorenzo, Bel-Air, and Urdaneta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Circumferential Road 5–Kalayaan Avenue Interchange</span> Road interchange in the Philippines

The Circumferential Road 5–Kalayaan Avenue Interchange, also known as the C-5–Kalayaan Interchange, is a road interchange in barangays West Rembo and East Rembo in Taguig, Metro Manila. Originally a regular four-way intersection between Carlos P. Garcia Avenue, a part of Circumferential Road 5 (C-5), and Kalayaan Avenue, it was fitted in 2009 with the country's first elevated U-turn slots, built in an attempt to speed up traffic along the C-5 corridor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Estrella–Pantaleon Bridge</span> Bridge in Metro Manila, Philippines

The Estrella–Pantaleon Bridge, also known as the Rockwell Bridge, is a four-lane box girder bridge crossing the Pasig River in Metro Manila, Philippines. It connects Estrella Street in Makati on the south bank of the Pasig River, to Pantaleon Street via Barangka Drive in Mandaluyong on the north bank, near the site of the Acqua Private Residences.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Estrella Flyover</span> Ramp in the Philippines

The Estrella Flyover, also known as the EDSA–Estrella Ramp and the Rockwell Flyover, is a two-lane flyover connecting Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) and Estrella Street in Makati, Metro Manila, the Philippines, facilitating access to the Rockwell Center mixed-use development. It runs along the barangay boundary of Bel-Air with Pinagkaisahan and Guadalupe Viejo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Osmeña Highway</span> Major road in Metro Manila, Philippines

The President Sergio Osmeña Sr. Highway, also known as the South Superhighway, is a 4.595-kilometer (2.855 mi) major highway that links Quirino Avenue in Paco, Manila to Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) and South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) at the Magallanes Interchange in Makati.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Traffic in Metro Manila</span>

According to a "Global Driver Satisfaction" survey conducted by the navigation app Waze in 2015, Metro Manila had the "worst traffic on Southeast Asia". Emerson Carlos, MMDA assistant general manager for operation has mentioned that in 2015, motor vehicle registrations in Metro Manila peaked at around 2.5 million.

The Santa Rosa Integrated Terminal (SRIT), also known as the SM City Santa Rosa Transport Terminal, is a bus station in SM City Santa Rosa in Santa Rosa, Laguna, Philippines. It is the second of three planned provincial intermodal terminals for the south of Manila under a public-private partnership arrangement. Opened on March 26, 2019, the terminal handles province-bound and incoming buses from Calabarzon and the Bicol Region, as well as other provincial buses plying the nautical highway in the south pending the completion of, and as an alternative to, the Taguig Integrated Terminal Exchange.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">EDSA Carousel</span> Bus rapid transit system in Metro Manila

The EDSA Carousel, also known as Route 1 and formerly and still referred to as Route E, is a bus rapid transit (BRT) system, part of several bus routes in Metro Manila. It is situated along EDSA and other roads, running on a dedicated right-of-way called the EDSA Busway, separated from normal road traffic in most of its stretch by concrete barriers and steel bollards on the innermost lane.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No Contact Apprehension Policy</span> Traffic management policy in the Philippines

The No Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP) refers to different active traffic management and road traffic safety measures being implemented by local government units all over the Philippines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Traffic law in the Philippines</span> Rules of the road in the Philippines

Traffic law in the Philippines consists of multiple laws that govern the regulation and management of road transportation and the conduct of road users within the country.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Aravilla, Jose (November 3, 1995). "Color-coding scheme ban to include private cars". Manila Standard . Kamahalan Publishing Corporation. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
  2. ↑ Tort, Marvin (December 9, 1998). "IRON HORSES; Hare-brained ideas". BusinessWorld . Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  3. ↑ Aravilla, Jose (April 4, 1996). "Maganto mulls implementing voluntary 'color coding' plan". Manila Standard . Kamahalan Publishing Corporation. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
  4. ↑ Frialde, Mike (November 19, 1995). "Binay presses stand on traffic scheme". Manila Standard . Kamahalan Publishing Corporation. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
  5. ↑ Villanueva, Marichu A. (November 22, 1995). "Solon tells quarreling execs to get act together". Manila Standard . Kamahalan Publishing Corporation. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
  6. 1 2 Calobo, Arlie; Aravilla, Jose (December 2, 1995). "Confusion mars odd-even scheme implementation". Manila Standard . Kamahalan Publishing Corporation. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
  7. ↑ Aravilla, Jose (April 23, 1996). "Modified color-coding scheme on Edsa until September". Manila Standard . Kamahalan Publishing Corporation. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
  8. ↑ Galvez, Daphne (March 13, 2020). "Number coding lifted —MMDA". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  9. ↑ Santos, Jel (January 15, 2021). "Number coding scheme remains lifted —MMDA". Manila Bulletin .
  10. ↑ Zurbano, Joel (July 15, 2021). "NCR's number coding still on hold; Makati modifies traffic scheme". Manila Standard . Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  11. ↑ Official MMDA [@MMDA] (December 2, 2021). "#mmda" (Tweet). Retrieved December 4, 2021– via Twitter.
  12. ↑ Dela Cruz, Raymond Carl (November 29, 2021). "Reimposition of 5-8 p.m. number coding in NCR expected this week". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  13. ↑ Laurel, Drei (May 4, 2022). "MMDA: Doctors are exempted from number coding scheme, provided they can show ID" . Retrieved June 23, 2022.
  14. 1 2 "MMDA Resolution No. 22-14, s. 2022" (PDF). Metro Manila Development Authority. August 11, 2022. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  15. 1 2 Gonzales, Cathrine (March 8, 2022). "'Normal' number coding scheme back in Makati starting March 16". Inquirer.net. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  16. ↑ "Makati to resume full vehicle number coding scheme by March 16". BusinessWorld. March 1, 2022. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  17. ↑ Zulueta, Allysa Mae (April 4, 2023). "The 2023 Guide to Number Coding in the Philippines". Autodeal. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  18. ↑ Lee, Earl (April 26, 2022). "Is there number coding on Philippine Highways/Expressways?". Autodeal. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  19. ↑ "16 roads covered by number coding scheme; full implementation starts Aug. 18". BusinessWorld. August 14, 2022.
  20. ↑ Republic Act No. 11697 (April 15, 2022), An Act Providing for the Development of the Electric Vehicle Industry, Lawphil, retrieved May 17, 2022
  21. ↑ RadyoMaN Manila (April 14, 2023). "Expanded number coding scheme, ipatutupad sa lungsod ng Parañaque" (in Filipino). Radio Mindanao Network . Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  22. ↑ Afuang, Dylan (February 1, 2023). "The 2023 Guide to MMDA Number Coding in the Philippines". Zigwheels. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.