No more window hours? MMDA mulls 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. number coding scheme

Window hours for the number coding scheme in Metro Manila may soon be scrapped, according to the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Wednesday. 

MMDA chairperson Romando Artes said that such a resolution was already approved on October 6, but it has yet to be implemented as the agency is still conducting a study on its possible impact. 

“Iyon pong sa number coding, iyon pong resolution na ating napa-approve ay aalisin na po ang window period. So ang magiging coding po ay 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.,” Artes said.

(On the number coding, the resolution that was approved removes the window period. So, the number coding will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.)

“Inahahanda lamang po namin ito para kung sakali kailangan, lalong-lalo na kung sobra ang pagbibigat ng daloy ng trapiko ay atin pong kaagad na i-enforce,” he added.

(We just readied the resolution in case of possible heavy traffic, we can implement it immediately.)

According to Artes, the MMDA will monitor the traffic situation from November 6 to November 12 before making a decision. 

On Tuesday, the MMDA clarified that window hours will remain and denied reports of a 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. coding ban.

Currently, the regular MMDA number coding is from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays to Fridays, except weekends and holidays. Window hours are from 10:01 a.m. to 4:59 p.m.

In Makati City, the number coding scheme is from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., with no window hours.

Meanwhile, MMDA has suspended the expanded number coding scheme on the following special non-working holidays:

• October 30, 2023: Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections
• November 1, 2023: All Saints Day
• November 2, 2023: All Souls Day

—Joviland Rita/ VAL, GMA Integrated News