Navigating the bustling streets of Metro Manila and other Philippine cities requires understanding the Unified Vehicle Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP), commonly known as the Number Coding Scheme. As a car owner or driver, grasping these regulations is crucial to avoid penalties and ensure smooth commutes. This comprehensive guide, brought to you by carcodescanner.store, your trusted source for automotive expertise, will break down everything you need to know about Car Coding Rules In The Philippines in 2024.
Decoding the Number Coding Scheme
So, what exactly is the Number Coding Scheme? Formally known as the Unified Vehicle Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP), this initiative by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) aims to alleviate traffic congestion in Metro Manila and other urban areas. It works by restricting vehicles from using certain roads on weekdays based on the last digit of their license plates.
Introduced in 1995 initially as an experiment focusing on public utility vehicles (PUVs), the scheme was later expanded to include all vehicles, especially on major thoroughfares like EDSA. It’s important to note that the Number Coding Scheme is not enforced during weekends and declared holidays. Interestingly, the UVVRP was temporarily suspended from March 2020 to November 2021 during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Is Number Coding Currently Active?
Yes, the Number Coding Scheme is in effect as of June 2024. The MMDA expanded its implementation starting August 15, 2022, to include both morning and evening peak hours. The current schedule restricts coded vehicles during these times:
- Morning Peak Hours: 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM
- Evening Peak Hours: 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM
- Window Hours (for coded vehicles to travel): 10:01 AM to 4:59 PM and 8:01 PM to 6:59 AM the next day.
This schedule applies from Monday to Friday, excluding weekends and holidays, and is the standard scheme across most of Metro Manila.
Your Car’s Coding Day: How to Determine It
Knowing your car’s coding day is straightforward. It’s determined by the last digit of your vehicle’s license plate number. Here’s a simple breakdown:
- Monday: Plates ending in 1 and 2
- Tuesday: Plates ending in 3 and 4
- Wednesday: Plates ending in 5 and 6
- Thursday: Plates ending in 7 and 8
- Friday: Plates ending in 9 and 0
So, if your license plate ends in 7, your car is restricted from using coded roads on Thursdays during the specified hours.
Understanding “Window Hours”
The concept of “window hours” is crucial for drivers to understand. Window hours are the periods within the daytime coding schedule where coded vehicles are allowed to travel on restricted roads in areas that implement them. Specifically, these hours are from 10:01 AM to 4:59 PM.
However, it’s important to note that not all cities or roads in Metro Manila observe window hours. For instance, Makati City does not implement window hours and enforces coding from 7 AM to 7 PM. Moreover, radial roads, circumferential roads, and national roads are generally not included in the window hours system. Always verify the specific rules for your destination to avoid violations.
Roads Covered by the Number Coding Scheme in Metro Manila
The MMDA enforces the Number Coding Scheme on all major roads under its jurisdiction within Metro Manila. These primary thoroughfares include:
- EDSA
- C5
- Recto Avenue
- Quirino Avenue
- Araneta Avenue
- C6
- Roxas Boulevard
- Taft Avenue
- Shaw Boulevard
- Ortigas Avenue
- Magsaysay Boulevard
- Aurora Boulevard
- Quezon Avenue
- Bonifacio Avenue
- Rizal Avenue
- Del Pan Street
- Marcos Highway
It’s essential to remember these roads when planning your routes during coding hours.
Areas and Roads Exempt from Number Coding
While the Number Coding Scheme is widespread, some areas and roads are exempt. These exemptions often include privately operated tollways and certain municipal roads. Here are key areas and roads where the scheme typically does not apply:
- Tollways:
- NAIA Expressway
- Skyway System
- South Luzon Expressway (SLEX)
- NLEX Harbor Link
- Specific Roads:
- Domestic Road
- Ninoy Aquino Avenue
- MIA Road
- Sales Road
- Parts of Airport Road
- Some parts of Buendia Avenue (Gil Puyat Avenue)
Always double-check for updated lists as exemptions can change.
Vehicle Exemptions: Who Gets a Pass?
Certain types of vehicles are exempted from the Number Coding Scheme. These exemptions are designed to ensure essential services and specific vehicle categories are not unduly restricted. Generally exempted vehicles include:
- Public Utility Vehicles (PUVs): This includes buses, jeepneys, and tricycles.
- Transport Network Vehicle Services (TNVS): Ride-hailing services like Grab are generally exempt.
- Motorcycles: Motorcycles are not covered by the scheme.
- Essential Service Vehicles: Garbage trucks, fuel trucks, fire trucks, marked government vehicles, and marked media vehicles.
- Vehicles Carrying Essential Goods: Vehicles transporting perishable goods or essential commodities.
- Medical Professionals: Doctors with valid and updated PRC licenses.
- Electric and Hybrid Vehicles: Vehicles with legitimate LTO certification and special EV/Hybrid vehicle plates, as per Republic Act No. 11697 (Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act or EVIDA).
Important Note: Exemptions can vary by city. For example, in Makati City, exemptions are more limited, primarily covering vehicles carrying senior citizen BluCard holders, emergency vehicles, vehicles on official functions, and electric vehicles. Always verify city-specific exemptions.
Electric Vehicles and Hybrid Vehicle Exemption: The EVIDA Law
Electric Vehicles (EVs) and hybrid vehicles enjoy exemption from the UVVRP due to Republic Act No. 11697, the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA). This law promotes the adoption of EVs and aims to create a conducive environment for the electric vehicle industry in the Philippines. To qualify for this exemption, the vehicle’s registration must clearly state that it is a hybrid or electric vehicle.
However, it’s crucial to understand that mild-hybrid vehicles are generally not exempted. Exemption typically applies to full hybrids and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles that can propel themselves using electric power alone. The Department of Energy (DOE) maintains a list of recognized EVs and Hybrids. Always verify if your hybrid vehicle model is recognized by the DOE to ensure coding exemption.
Penalties for Number Coding Violations
Violating the Number Coding Scheme will result in penalties. The standard fine for UVVRP violations typically ranges from ₱300 to ₱500, depending on the city or area where the violation occurred. It is crucial to settle these fines within seven days to avoid additional penalties during driver’s license renewal.
Paying Your Number Coding Violation Fine
Paying fines for number coding violations is now more convenient. MMDA-approved payment channels include:
- Landbank
- SM Bills Payment Centers
- Bayad Center
- Bayad Center partners like GCash, PayMaya, and GrabPay
In 2023, the MMDA also introduced handheld ticketing devices that allow for on-the-spot payment of fines, streamlining the process.
City-Specific Number Coding Rules
While Metro Manila generally follows the MMDA’s guidelines, specific cities may have slight variations in their implementation. Here’s a city-by-city overview:
- Alabang, Muntinlupa City: Generally no coding, except for Ayala-Alabang National Road and Alabang-Zapote Road corner Buencamino and North Gate (using MMDA scheme). Violations on these roads incur fines starting at ₱500 for the first offense.
- Makati City: Stricter implementation – coding from 7 AM to 7 PM with no window hours. Exemptions are very limited. Standard fine of ₱300.
- Quezon City: Follows MMDA scheme: 7 AM to 10 AM and 5 PM to 8 PM with window hours (10:01 AM to 4:59 PM).
- Pasig City: Follows MMDA scheme: 7 AM to 10 AM and 5 PM to 8 PM with window hours (10:01 AM to 4:59 PM).
- Pasay City: 7 AM to 10 AM and 5 PM to 8 PM coding with window hours (10 AM to 4 PM). Exemptions on major thoroughfares like Domestic Road, Ninoy Aquino Avenue, etc.
- Parañaque City: Follows MMDA scheme: 7 AM to 10 AM and 5 PM to 8 PM coding with window hours (10 AM to 4 PM).
- Mandaluyong City: Follows MMDA scheme since August 2022: 7 AM to 10 AM and 5 PM to 8 PM coding with window hours (10 AM to 4 PM).
- Manila City: Varied implementation – some areas with no window hours, others follow 7 AM to 10 AM and 5 PM to 8 PM coding with window hours (10 AM to 4 PM). Check specific locations within Manila.
- Valenzuela City: Follows MMDA scheme since August 2022: 7 AM to 10 AM and 5 PM to 8 PM coding with window hours (10:01 AM to 4:59 PM) on specified roads like MacArthur Highway, Maysan Road, etc.
- Taguig City: Partially exempt. Coding applies to national roads within Taguig, including East Service Road and Manuel L. Quezon Avenue.
- San Juan City: Coding from 7 AM to 7 PM, with window hours from 10 AM to 3 PM. Verify if they have shifted to the MMDA’s 7 AM-10 AM/5 PM-8 PM scheme.
- Caloocan City: 7 AM to 10 AM and 5 PM to 8 PM coding. Samson Road is not included in window hours exemptions.
Always verify the most current rules with the specific city’s local government unit (LGU) or traffic management authority, as regulations can change.
Number Coding Outside Metro Manila
The Number Coding Scheme is not exclusive to Metro Manila. Other Philippine cities facing traffic congestion have also adopted similar schemes. These include:
- Baguio City: Coding in selected areas, especially tourist spots like Session Road, Burnham Park, and Baguio City Market, from 7 AM to 7 PM on weekdays. Fine of ₱500.
- Cabanatuan City & Dagupan City: Adhere to the same daily license plate restrictions as Metro Manila.
- Cavite Province: Previously had UVRS, but the number coding scheme is currently suspended under Provincial Ordinance 283-2020 until further notice.
Future Updates to the Coding Scheme
The MMDA continuously evaluates and considers updates to the Number Coding Scheme to further optimize traffic flow. In 2022, the MMDA explored more stringent options, including:
- Odd-Even Scheme: Odd-numbered plates restricted Mondays & Thursdays; even-numbered plates Tuesdays & Fridays. Wednesdays as no-coding days.
- Two-Day Ban Scheme: More complex system restricting different plate number combinations for two days a week.
As of 2024, these more drastic schemes have not been implemented due to public feedback and complexity concerns. However, it’s crucial to stay informed about potential future changes to the Number Coding Scheme by following MMDA announcements and news updates.
Stay Updated on Car Coding Rules
Navigating car coding rules in the Philippines requires vigilance and staying informed. Always check for the latest updates from the MMDA and your specific city’s LGU to ensure compliance and avoid unnecessary fines. Understanding and adhering to these rules contributes to better traffic management and smoother commutes for everyone. For more car maintenance tips and automotive guides, visit carcodescanner.store – your partner in responsible car ownership.
