Navigating traffic in Metro Manila and other major cities in the Philippines can be challenging. To manage congestion, authorities implement a traffic management strategy known as the Number Coding Scheme, often referred to as “Color Coding Car Philippines” due to its association with specific days. Understanding this system is crucial for drivers to avoid penalties and plan their commutes effectively. As car experts at carcodescanner.store, we’re here to break down everything you need to know about the color coding car system in the Philippines.
What is the Number Coding Scheme?
The Unified Vehicle Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP), widely recognized as the Number Coding Scheme, is a traffic regulation implemented by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA). This program aims to reduce traffic volume by restricting the use of both private and public utility vehicles on roads based on the last digit of their license plates. This scheme is strictly enforced on weekdays, from Monday to Friday, to manage traffic flow during peak hours.
Introduced in 1995 initially as a trial targeting public utility vehicles (PUVs), the Number Coding Scheme was later expanded to include all vehicles traveling along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA), a major thoroughfare in Metro Manila. It’s important to note that the number coding is suspended during weekends and declared holidays. The system has undergone several revisions and updates over the years to adapt to the evolving traffic situation, leading to the current version in effect today.
Is the Number Coding in Effect Now?
Yes, as of August 15, 2022, the MMDA has reinstated the Number Coding scheme with specific morning and evening coding hours. Currently, the scheme is active from 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM and again from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, applicable on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Weekends and holidays are excluded from these restrictions, allowing all vehicles to travel freely.
For vehicles affected by the number coding, designated “window hours” are in place. During these hours, coded cars are permitted to be on the roads. These window hours are between 10:01 AM to 4:59 PM and from 8:01 PM until 6:59 AM the following day, providing flexibility for drivers to use their vehicles outside peak traffic times.
What is the Purpose of the Number Coding Scheme?
The primary objective of the UVVRP or Number Coding Scheme is to alleviate traffic congestion in the Philippines, particularly in Metro Manila. By restricting the number of vehicles on public roads based on their license plate numbers on specific days, the scheme aims to reduce traffic volume and improve traffic flow. This program is rooted in Section 1 of Memorandum Regulation No. 96-005. As of August 2022, the operational hours of the number coding scheme are set from 7 AM to 10 AM and then resumes from 5 PM to 8 PM, with the intervening period designated as “window hours” where coding restrictions are lifted.
What are the Number Coding Days?
As a vehicle owner and driver, it is essential to be aware of your vehicle’s license plate number, especially the last digit, to avoid driving on restricted days. The number coding schedule is based on the last digit of your license plate:
- Mondays: Vehicles with license plates ending in 1 and 2 are prohibited.
- Tuesdays: Vehicles with license plates ending in 3 and 4 are prohibited.
- Wednesdays: Vehicles with license plates ending in 5 and 6 are prohibited.
- Thursdays: Vehicles with license plates ending in 7 and 8 are prohibited.
- Fridays: Vehicles with license plates ending in 9 and 0 are prohibited.
Remembering this schedule will help you plan your trips and avoid violating the “color coding car philippines” rules.
At What Time are the Number Coding Hours?
According to the UVVRP guidelines, the standard number coding period was initially from 7 AM to 8 PM. However, in August 2022, the MMDA revised the coding hours to be from 7 AM to 10 AM and from 5 PM to 8 PM. It’s important to note that some areas, like Makati City, still adhere to the traditional 7 AM to 7 PM coding scheme. Always be sure to check for specific city regulations to ensure compliance.
What are Window Hours?
“Window hours” provide a period during which vehicles restricted by the number coding scheme are allowed to travel without facing penalties. However, it’s crucial to understand that window hours may not apply to all roads. Radial Roads, Circumferential Roads, and National Roads typically do not observe window hours. While these major roads may not have window hours, drivers can often use secondary routes to navigate through these areas during coded hours. It is advisable to check the specific window hour schedule for the location you intend to pass through, as they can vary.
In August 2022, the MMDA reintroduced window hours in many areas as traffic conditions stabilized post-pandemic. Currently, window hours are generally from 10:01 AM to 4:59 PM in locations that follow the standard MMDA scheme.
Are there any Cities in Metro Manila without Number Coding Window Hours?
Makati City stands out as the only city within Metro Manila that does not implement window hours for the Number Coding scheme. In Makati, the coding rule is continuously enforced from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. All other cities within Metro Manila generally follow the standard coding scheme with window hours between 10:01 AM and 4:59 PM, offering a midday reprieve for coded vehicles.
What Vehicles are Exempt from Number Coding?
Certain types of vehicles are exempted from the number coding scheme to ensure essential services and public transportation are not disrupted. These exemptions include:
- Public Utility Vehicles (PUVs) such as buses, jeepneys, and including tricycles.
- Transport Network Vehicle Services (TNVS) like ride-sharing services.
- Motorcycles, which are a popular mode of transport in the Philippines.
- Garbage trucks, fuel trucks, and fire trucks, essential for public services and safety.
- Marked government vehicles and marked media vehicles on official duty.
- Motor vehicles carrying essential or perishable goods to maintain supply chains.
- Doctors with valid and updated PRC (Professional Regulation Commission) Licenses, especially during emergencies.
- Electric vehicles and Hybrid Vehicles with LTO (Land Transportation Office) certification, promoting eco-friendly transport.
It is very important to remember that these exemptions may not fully apply in Makati City, which has its own specific regulations.
What are the Penalties for being caught violating Number Coding?
If you are apprehended by a traffic enforcer for violating the number coding scheme rules (UVVRP), a standard fine of P300 is imposed. It’s important to settle this penalty within seven days to avoid additional complications. Failure to pay within this period may lead to further fines when you renew your driver’s license, resulting in a more inconvenient process.
Rules in Alabang
Muntinlupa City generally does not implement a number coding scheme. However, there are specific roads within Alabang, Muntinlupa City, that adhere to the MMDA’s coding scheme. These roads are:
- Ayala-Alabang National Road
- Alabang-Zapote Road corner Buencamino and North Gate
Violations in these specific areas of Alabang incur fines: P500 for the first offense, P750 for the second offense, and P1,000 for the third and subsequent offenses. Keep in mind that these penalties and coding schemes were established prior to the pandemic, and it’s always advisable to check for the most current regulations.
Rules in Makati City
Makati City, Metro Manila’s bustling Central Business District, strictly enforces the number coding rule without window hours, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Violators face a standard fine of P300. However, Makati City provides exemptions for vehicles carrying senior citizen Blu Card holders, either as drivers or passengers, and for vehicles on official functions or involved in medical emergencies, as outlined in the Makati code.
Rules in Quezon City
Quezon City currently aligns with the MMDA’s number coding scheme, which operates from 7 AM to 10 AM and 5 PM to 8 PM, with window hours in between from 10:01 AM to 4:59 PM. This alignment simplifies traffic rules for motorists traveling across different cities in Metro Manila.
Rules in Pasig City
As part of Metro Manila, Pasig City also follows the MMDA’s standard number coding scheme. This means the coding hours are from 7 AM to 10 AM and 5 PM to 8 PM, with window hours from 10:01 AM to 4:59 PM, ensuring consistency with neighboring cities.
Rules in Pasay City
In Pasay City, the number coding scheme is in effect from 7 AM to 10 AM and from 5 PM to 8 PM, with a window period from 10 AM to 4 PM. However, this coding does not apply to major thoroughfares like Domestic Road, Ninoy Aquino Avenue, MIA Road, Sales Road, parts of Airport Road, and sections of Buendia Avenue (Gil Puyat), providing some relief for commuters on these routes.
Rules in Parañaque City
Parañaque City adheres to the standardized coding scheme established by the MMDA. This means number coding is enforced between 7 AM to 10 AM and from 5 PM to 8 PM, with window hours from 10 AM to 4 PM. This implementation reflects the coding scheme that was reinstated in August 2022 across Metro Manila.
Rules in Mandaluyong City
Since August 2022, Mandaluyong City has adopted the MMDA’s number coding scheme. Consequently, coding is active from 7 AM to 10 AM and from 5 PM to 8 PM, with a window period between 10 AM and 4 PM, aligning with the majority of Metro Manila cities.
Rules in Manila City
Manila City, being a large and diverse city, has areas with varying number coding implementations. Some locations in Manila City enforce the number coding scheme without window hours, while other roads follow the 7 AM to 10 AM and 5 PM to 8 PM coding period with window hours from 10 AM to 4 PM. Drivers in Manila should be aware of specific road regulations to avoid violations.
Rules in Valenzuela City
Valenzuela City implements the number coding scheme from 7 AM to 10 AM and from 5 PM to 8 PM, with window hours from 10:01 AM to 4:59 PM, as per the MMDA’s August 2022 reimplementation. This program is enforced on the following roads in Valenzuela:
- MacArthur Highway
- Maysan – Paso De Blas – Bagbaguin Road
- Karuhatan – Gen. T. De Leon Road
- Gov. I. Santiago Road (Malinta to Tatawid)
- Mindanao Avenue (Barangay Ugong)
- East and West NLEX Service Road
- T. Santiago Road
- Sapang Bakaw (Lawang Bato) – Punturin – Bignay Road
Rules in Taguig City
Taguig City is partially exempted from the coding scheme. However, selected areas, particularly national roads within its boundaries, including East Service Road and Manuel L. Quezon Avenue, still implement the coding scheme. Drivers in Taguig should be mindful of these specific road restrictions.
Rules in San Juan City
San Juan City currently practices the number coding scheme from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Vehicles under restriction are permitted to travel during window hours, which are from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It’s advisable to check for updates from the San Juan City government regarding the adoption of the 7 AM to 10 AM and 5 PM to 8 PM coding period with the 10 AM to 4 PM window hours, as changes may occur.
Rules in Caloocan City
In Caloocan City, the number coding scheme typically operates from 7 AM to 10 AM and 5 PM to 8 PM. While window hours from 10 AM to 4 PM are generally applicable in Caloocan, Samson Road is an exception. Restricted vehicles are not allowed on Samson Road throughout the entire number coding period. Always verify current rules, as pre-pandemic regulations may have been updated.
Is there Number Coding outside of Metro Manila?
The UVVRP extends beyond Metro Manila to regulate traffic in other urban areas. Cities like Baguio, Cavite, Cabanatuan, and Dagupan also implement number coding, generally following the same daily license plate restriction.
Baguio City, known as the “City of Pines,” applies number coding primarily in tourist-heavy areas such as Session Road, Burnham Park, and Baguio City Market. The coding period in Baguio is from 7 AM to 7 PM, similar to the earlier standard in Metro Manila.
In Cavite City, the UVVRP is active on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on major roads:
- Aguinaldo Highway (Bacoor to Dasmarinas-Silang boundary)
- Governor’s Drive (Carmona to Trece Martires City – Tanza boundary)
- Molino-Salawag-Paliparan Road (Zapote, Bacoor to Paliparan, Dasmarinas)
- Molino Boulevard
- Daang Hari Road (Aguinaldo Highway, Imus to Molino, Bacoor)
Window hours in Cavite typically run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Violations in Cavite City incur a fine of P300.
Are there likely to be any changes to Number Coding in the future?
Traffic management is a constantly evolving challenge, and the UVVRP is subject to adjustments. Pasig City’s discontinuation of the odd-even number coding scheme in favor of the standard scheme highlights the dynamic nature of traffic policies. Continuous evaluation and studies are conducted to find effective solutions to traffic congestion.
While window hours offer temporary relief, there have been proposals for a standardized 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. no-window-hours coding scheme for all roads, similar to the current rule on Radial Roads, Circumferential Roads, and National Roads.
As traffic patterns continue to change, especially post-pandemic, further modifications to the number coding scheme are likely in the future to optimize traffic flow and address congestion effectively. The MMDA’s August 2022 decision to revert to the 7 AM to 10 AM and 5 PM to 8 PM coding scheme is a recent example of such adjustments in response to evolving traffic conditions.
Metro Manila Number Coding Scheme during the Pandemic
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) temporarily suspended the number coding scheme in Metro Manila. However, the program was reinstated on August 15, 2022, as traffic volumes returned to pre-pandemic levels.
Makati City implemented a modified number coding scheme during the pandemic, following the same coding format as the MMDA but exempting vehicles with two or more occupants. In addition, Makati’s modified scheme also exempted:
- Motorcycles
- Ambulances
- Fire trucks
- Police patrol vehicles
- Military vehicles on official functions
- Diplomatic vehicles with diplomatic plates
- Government vehicles with government plates in official use
- Official media vehicles with markings
- Tow trucks accredited in Makati
- Vehicles used by medical practitioners in emergencies
- Vehicles with Senior Citizen Blu Card holders
These pandemic-era adjustments illustrate the flexibility of the “color coding car philippines” system in responding to extraordinary circumstances and the specific needs of different localities.
