Navigating Car Coding Hours in Metro Manila: Your Ultimate Guide

Driving in Metro Manila is notoriously challenging, often likened to stating the obvious – the sun is hot. Venturing out onto the roads almost guarantees encountering heavy traffic. Therefore, strategic trip planning is essential, and a crucial aspect of this is understanding and checking if your vehicle is affected by the car coding scheme.

If you’re puzzled by the latest number coding regulations or struggling to recall the schedule and window hours, you’re not alone. This guide provides a comprehensive refresher on the number coding system in Metro Manila, helping you navigate the roads with greater ease and avoid penalties.

Understanding Number Coding in Metro Manila

The Number Coding Scheme, officially known as the Modified Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP), is a traffic management initiative implemented to reduce the volume of vehicles on Metro Manila roads and alleviate traffic congestion. Overseen by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), this scheme aims to decrease traffic volume by up to 20% during peak hours in the morning and afternoon/evening. This strategy is a key component of broader traffic solutions in the Philippines.

MMDA Car Coding Hours: When Are They in Effect?

So, what are the specific car coding hours? The expanded number coding scheme in Metro Manila is enforced during rush hours: from 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM and again from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Monday through Friday. These car coding hours are designed to impact the heaviest traffic periods.

However, it’s important to note that number coding is suspended on holidays and weekends, providing some relief from the restrictions.

The MMDA’s expanded scheme primarily targets private vehicles. The restriction is based on the last digit of your vehicle’s license plate number, dictating the day of the week when your car is prohibited from driving in Metro Manila.

Consult this helpful table to plan your journeys effectively and be aware of your car coding schedule:

For instance, if your license plate ends with the digit ‘0’, your vehicle is coded on Fridays. Driving on restricted roads during car coding hours will result in apprehension by traffic enforcers. Violators will receive a ticket and be required to pay a penalty fee for UVVRP violation. It’s crucial to be aware of these regulations to avoid unexpected fines and delays.

Car Coding Areas: Where is Number Coding Enforced in Metro Manila?

Are you wondering about car coding areas and if number coding applies on major thoroughfares like EDSA and SLEX, or in busy cities such as Manila and Pasay?

According to the MMDA, number coding in Metro Manila is implemented across all cities and municipalities within Metro Manila’s jurisdiction. However, Makati City is a notable exception, as it operates its own traffic management and number coding rules. Makati’s car coding hours are more extensive, running from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM.

The MMDA’s number coding scheme is consistently enforced on these major Metro Manila roads:

• EDSA
• C5
• Recto Avenue
• Quirino Avenue
• Araneta Avenue
• C6
• Roxas Boulevard
• Taft Avenue
• South Luzon Expressway (SLEX)
• Shaw Boulevard
• Ortigas Avenue
• Bonifacio Avenue
• Rizal Avenue
• Quezon Avenue
• Marcos Highway
• Del Pan
• Magsaysay Boulevard
• Aurora Boulevard

Individual cities within Metro Manila may also have their own specific traffic regulations and number coding ordinances for secondary roads. Before driving, it’s always advisable to check with the local government unit regarding city-specific car coding schemes and related traffic rules to ensure compliance and avoid violations.

City-Specific Car Coding Rules within Metro Manila

While the MMDA sets the general framework for car coding hours, some cities within Metro Manila have specific implementations or nuances to be aware of:

📍 Manila

Manila, one of the most densely populated cities with some of the busiest roads in the Philippines, largely adheres to the MMDA car coding hours of 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. However, it’s important to be aware that some roads within Manila do not observe window hours, meaning the coding is continuously enforced during these periods. Always check for specific road advisories within Manila.

📍 Makati

Makati City operates a distinct number coding scheme. Car coding in Makati is enforced from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM with no window hours. This stricter implementation means that if your vehicle is coded, you cannot drive it anywhere in Makati during these hours. A ₱300 fine is imposed for violations.

Exemptions in Makati are limited to vehicles carrying senior citizen Blu Card holders (as drivers or passengers), those involved in legitimate medical emergencies, and vehicles on official duties.

📍 Pasig

Pasig City follows the MMDA’s standard car coding scheme. Therefore, car coding hours in Pasig are from 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, providing window hours in between.

📍 Pasay

Pasay City also implements number coding from 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. However, certain major roads in Pasay are exempted from the scheme. These include Sales Road, MIA Road, Ninoy Aquino Avenue, and Domestic Road, as well as sections of Airport Road and Gil Puyat Avenue. Drivers in Pasay should be aware of these exemptions.

📍 Taguig

Taguig City has a partial implementation of number coding. Bonifacio Global City (BGC) within Taguig does not implement number coding. However, car coding is enforced in other areas of Taguig, particularly on national roads like the East Service Road and Manuel L. Quezon Avenue, following the standard MMDA car coding hours.

📍 Quezon City

Quezon City adheres to the MMDA number coding schedule: 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. This means that window hours from 10:01 AM to 4:59 PM are available for coded vehicles to travel within Quezon City.

📍 Marikina

Marikina City generally does not have number coding. However, a portion of Marcos Highway near Sta. Lucia East Mall and Ayala Malls Feliz is subject to the number coding scheme. On this stretch, avoid driving coded vehicles during the restricted hours of 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

📍 Muntinlupa

In Muntinlupa, number coding is limited to Ayala-Alabang National Road and Alabang-Zapote Road corner Buencamino and North Gate, and only during the hours of 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Commerce Avenue in Muntinlupa is not covered by number coding.

📍 Mandaluyong

Mandaluyong City implements the MMDA’s standard number coding scheme. To avoid penalties, drivers of coded vehicles in Mandaluyong should only travel during the window hours of 10:01 AM to 4:49 PM.

📍 Caloocan

Caloocan City follows the standard number coding system from 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. An exception in Caloocan is Samson Road, where number coding is enforced without window hours during these periods.

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