Navigating Metro Manila and other Philippine cities means understanding the Number Coding Scheme, officially known as the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP). Implemented by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), this scheme restricts vehicles on roads based on the last digit of their license plates to ease traffic congestion. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of car coding in the Philippines as of 2022.
Understanding the Number Coding Scheme
The Number Coding Scheme was introduced in 1995, initially targeting public utility vehicles before expanding to all vehicles on EDSA. It’s a weekday program designed to reduce traffic by limiting the number of vehicles on the road. It’s crucial for drivers and car owners to understand how it works to avoid penalties.
Is Number Coding Currently in Effect?
Yes, as of August 15, 2022, the MMDA reinstated the Number Coding scheme with morning and evening peak hour restrictions. The current hours are from 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM on weekdays (Monday to Friday), excluding weekends and holidays.
Between these peak hours, “window hours” are in effect from 10:01 AM to 4:59 PM and from 8:01 PM to 6:59 AM the next day, allowing coded vehicles to travel.
The Purpose of Number Coding
The primary goal of the UVVRP or Number Coding Scheme is to alleviate traffic congestion in the Philippines, particularly in Metro Manila. By restricting vehicle movement based on license plate numbers, the scheme aims to reduce the volume of cars on major roads during peak hours. This initiative is based on Section 1 of Memorandum Regulation No. 96-005.
Number Coding Days and Plate Numbers
To comply with the Number Coding Scheme, drivers need to know their vehicle’s plate number and its last digit. Here’s a breakdown of the coding days:
- 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.
Number Coding Hours: Peak and Window Periods
The standard Number Coding hours, as of August 2022, are divided into peak hours and window hours.
- Morning Peak Hours: 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM
- Evening Peak Hours: 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM
- Window Hours: 10:01 AM to 4:59 PM and 8:01 PM to 6:59 AM the next day.
However, it’s important to note that some cities, like Makati, may have different implementations and may not observe window hours.
Window Hours: Flexibility within Restrictions
“Window hours” provide a period during which vehicles restricted by the Number Coding Scheme can travel without violation. However, window hours do not apply to Radial Roads, Circumferential Roads, and National Roads. While these major roads are continuously coded, drivers can use secondary routes during window hours to navigate through cities. Always verify the specific window hour rules for the location you are passing through, as they can vary.
Since August 2022, the MMDA has standardized window hours from 10:01 AM to 4:59 PM in areas without special restrictions, reflecting adjustments made post-pandemic to accommodate traffic normalization.
Cities in Metro Manila Without Window Hours
Currently, Makati City is the only city within Metro Manila that does not implement window hours. In Makati, the Number Coding rule is continuously enforced from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. All other cities in Metro Manila generally follow the standard MMDA coding scheme with window hours from 10:01 AM to 4:59 PM.
Exemptions from Number Coding
Certain vehicles are exempt from the Number Coding Scheme, allowing them to travel even during restricted hours. These exemptions generally include:
- Public Utility Vehicles (PUVs) such as buses, jeepneys, and tricycles.
- Transport Network Vehicle Services (TNVS).
- Motorcycles.
- Garbage trucks, fuel trucks, and fire trucks.
- Marked government vehicles and marked media vehicles.
- Vehicles carrying essential or perishable goods.
- Doctors with valid and updated PRC licenses.
- Electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles with LTO certification.
Important Note: Exemptions may not apply in Makati City. Always check local city ordinances for specific rules.
Penalties for Number Coding Violations
Violating the Number Coding Scheme results in a standard fine of ₱300. This penalty must be settled within seven days to avoid further complications during driver’s license renewal.
Number Coding Rules Across Metro Manila and Beyond
While Metro Manila largely adheres to the MMDA’s guidelines, some cities and areas have specific rules:
- Alabang, Muntinlupa City: Generally no coding, except on Ayala-Alabang National Road and Alabang-Zapote Road corner Buencamino and North Gate (following MMDA scheme). Violations here incur fines starting from ₱500.
- Makati City: No window hours, coding from 7 AM to 7 PM. Exemptions are very limited, primarily for Blu Card holders (senior citizens), official functions, and medical emergencies as per Makati City code.
- Quezon City, Pasig City, Pasay City, Paranaque City, Mandaluyong City, Valenzuela City: Follow the MMDA’s 7 AM to 10 AM and 5 PM to 8 PM coding with 10:01 AM to 4:59 PM window hours. Pasay City’s coding excludes major thoroughfares like Domestic Road, Ninoy Aquino Avenue, MIA Road, Sales Road, parts of Airport Road, and parts of Buendia (Gil Puyat).
- Manila City: Mixed implementation; some areas follow window hours, while others, particularly in congested zones, may have no window hours.
- Taguig City: Partially exempt; coding applies to national roads within its boundaries, 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 for recent updates).
- Caloocan City: Generally 7 AM to 10 AM and 5 PM to 8 PM with window hours, except for Samson Road, where coding is continuous.
Number Coding Outside Metro Manila:
The UVVRP extends beyond Metro Manila to cities like:
- Baguio City: Selected tourist areas (Session Road, Burnham Park, Baguio City Market) have coding from 7 AM to 7 PM. Central Business District also coded 7 AM to 7 PM. Fine is ₱500.
- Cavite City: Weekday coding from 6 AM to 7 PM on major roads (Aguinaldo Highway, Governor’s Drive, Molino-Salawag-Paliparan Road, Molino Boulevard, Daang Hari Road). Window hours from 9 AM to 3 PM. Fine is ₱300.
- Other cities like Cabanatuan and Dagupan also implement similar daily coding restrictions.
Future of Number Coding in the Philippines
Changes to the UVVRP are common as authorities seek to refine traffic management. Pasig City, for instance, discontinued an odd-even scheme, reverting to the standard coding, indicating ongoing evaluation and adaptation of traffic policies.
While window hours offer some flexibility, there have been proposals to standardize a no-window-hour 7 AM to 8 PM coding scheme, similar to the continuous coding on Radial, Circumferential, and National Roads. Expect further adjustments to the Number Coding Scheme as Metro Manila and other cities adapt to evolving traffic conditions. As of August 2022, the reversion to 7 AM-10 AM and 5 PM-8 PM reflects a response to normalized traffic post-pandemic.
Number Coding During the Pandemic Period
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the MMDA suspended the Number Coding scheme in Metro Manila. However, it was reinstated on August 15, 2022, as traffic volume returned to pre-pandemic levels.
Makati City maintained a modified scheme during the pandemic, exempting vehicles with two or more occupants, alongside exemptions for motorcycles, ambulances, fire trucks, police vehicles, diplomatic vehicles, government vehicles, media vehicles, tow trucks, medical emergency vehicles, and vehicles with Senior Citizen Blu Card holders.
Related Articles
- [Link to related article on car maintenance]
- [Link to related article on driving tips in Metro Manila]
Stay informed about the latest updates to car coding in the Philippines to ensure smooth and penalty-free journeys. Always check for announcements from the MMDA and local city authorities for the most current regulations.
