Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 16) — Close to 3,000 violators of the expanded number coding scheme were apprehended on Tuesday morning, an official of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said.
It was just the day after the expanded number coding scheme took effect but MMDA Task Force Special Operations chief Bong Nebrija announced the agency had already caught 2,939 violators.
“Ngayong araw po na ito, from 7 to 10 ngayong umaga, ay nakapagtala po tayo ng 2,939 vehicles na na-apprehend po at pinagsabihan rin natin yung mga motorista at drivers na ito,” said Nebrija during a public briefing.
[Translation: From 7 to 10 this morning, we apprehended 2,939 vehicles and we have reprimanded the drivers.]
He also revealed that 1,588 violators were flagged on Monday alone, the first day MMDA reimposed its morning number coding hours.
The morning coding scheme took effect Aug. 15 from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. on top of the existing number coding hours from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays.
The MMDA official said the apprehended motorists were warned and reminded to pass through alternative routes available to them should they be stuck in traffic during the number coding hours.
Nebrija further urged drivers of private vehicles to plan their trips according to the number coding hours, which only affect select cars once a week, so as to not coincide with public utility vehicles. The volume of vehicles on the road is expected to balloon when limited face-to-face classes open on August 22.
The number coding scheme only covers private cars. Exempted are transport network vehicles, motorcycles, trucks carrying waste and petroleum, and vehicles carrying perishable and essential goods.
Starting today, the coding scheme will be implemented again in the morning, in addition to early evening rush hour.
MMDA clarifies it will only begin issuing tickets for the morning coding scheme starting Thursday, Aug. 18. https://t.co/ZC0hUYE1vf pic.twitter.com/KZsWIWoRm0
— CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) August 14, 2022
