Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 26) — Traffic volume in the capital region will be reduced by 20% if the coding scheme’s window hours will be removed, the Metro Manila Council (MMC) said Thursday.
“Kung sakaling desisyunan na gawing effective ang policy na ito, 20% reduction [in traffic volume] ang posible nating maramdaman,” MMC President and San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora told CNN Philippines’ The Source.
[Translation: If it will be decided that this policy should take effect, we can possibly see 20% reduction in traffic volume.]
According to an MMC resolution recently published, the number coding scheme in Metro Manila will be implemented from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. But the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) clarified on Wednesday that the coding scheme from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. is retained for Mondays to Fridays, except weekends and holidays.
The MMDA explained the release of the resolution was a technical issue, and it was only supposed to be published if ever such a measure will be implemented for the upcoming holidays.
Zamora confirmed that the resolution was approved by the MMC last month, but the process to formally implement it is not yet completed.
The MMDA has also committed to first observe the traffic this November amid the holiday rush to determine if the new coding scheme should take effect, he added.
“At least nakaabang na ‘yung resolution, anytime na gustong i-activate…ay ready na at ia-announce na lang po ‘yan,” the mayor said.
