MMDA mulling resumption of number coding scheme during rush hours —Abalos

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairperson Benhur Abalos on Tuesday said they are considering the resumption of the implementation of the number coding scheme during rush hours.

Interviewed on Unang Balita, Abalos said the number of vehicles in Metro Manila thoroughfares is now close to pre-pandemic level, and that traffic is getting heavy only during rush hours.

“We were thinking what if yung number coding doon lang sa oras na yun muna para hindi ganun ka-drastic. Sa rush hour lang, mga tipong dalawang oras sa umaga, dalawang oras sa gabi,” he said.

(We were thinking what if the number coding will be implemented only during rush hours so it wouldn’t be that drastic. Like around two hours in the morning and two hours in the evening.)

Abalos said they would monitor the traffic situation for two to three days before coming up with a decision.

According to MMDA's monitoring, the vehicles traversing EDSA in October already reached 398,000, which is 7,000 short of 405,000, the average number of vehicles during the period before the COVID-19 pandemic.

The number coding scheme in Metro Manila has been suspended since last year due to the limited public transportation amid the pandemic. —KBK, GMA News