For those living in Metro Manila, grappling with traffic congestion is a daily reality. Like accepting certain childhood norms, understanding and abiding by traffic regulations such as the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP), commonly known as “Number Coding,” becomes essential. If you were driving in Manila in 2018, or are curious about past traffic management, here’s a comprehensive guide to car coding in Manila during that period.
The Origins of Number Coding in Manila
The Number Coding scheme isn’t a recent development; it was first introduced in 1995 by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) through Memorandum Regulation No. 95-001. The aim was, and remains, to reduce the volume of vehicles on the roads during weekdays and ease traffic flow. A revision followed in 1996 with MMDA Memorandum Regulation No. 96-005, refining the initial implementation. This established a system that has been part of Manila’s traffic landscape for over two decades.
Objective: Reducing Traffic Congestion
The core purpose of the Number Coding system is straightforward: to lessen traffic congestion in Metro Manila. It achieves this by restricting the number of vehicles allowed on the roads based on the last digit of their license plates. According to Section 1 of the 1996 Memorandum Regulation, both private and public utility vehicles were subject to these restrictions. In 2018, the standard Number Coding Scheme operated from 7 AM to 8 PM, Monday to Friday. The ban schedule was as follows:
- Monday: License plates ending in 1 and 2
- Tuesday: License plates ending in 3 and 4
- Wednesday: License plates ending in 5 and 6
- Thursday: License plates ending in 7 and 8
- Friday: License plates ending in 9 and 0
Evolution and Revisions of Car Coding
By 2018, the Number Coding scheme had already undergone several revisions since its inception. These adjustments reflected the ongoing efforts to optimize the scheme’s effectiveness in addressing Metro Manila’s persistent traffic issues. The revisions aimed to fine-tune the balance between traffic reduction and the commuting needs of the public.
Window Hours: A Period of Relief (Sometimes)
A key feature of the Number Coding in Manila was the concept of “window hours.” From 10 AM to 3 PM, vehicles normally restricted by the scheme could travel on designated roads. This five-hour window offered some flexibility for motorists. However, it was crucial to understand that window hours did not apply to all roads. Major thoroughfares in Metro Manila often had stricter rules, and these could vary from city to city. The complexity of window hours could be confusing, leading many drivers to simply avoid using their coded vehicles altogether during weekdays to ensure compliance and avoid penalties. The scheme was primarily enforced on weekdays due to the higher traffic volume compared to weekends, when it was typically suspended.
Roads Without Window Hours: Expanded Restrictions
Metro Manila’s notorious traffic congestion led to the formation of the Inter-Agency Council for Traffic (i-ACT). This council, composed of agencies like the MMDA, Department of Transportation (DOTr), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), Land Transportation Office (LTO), Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG), and the Metro Manila Council, implemented an Expanded UVVRP or Expanded Number Coding. This expansion meant stricter enforcement and the removal of window hours on several major roads in Metro Manila from 7 AM to 8 PM. Key roads with no window hours in 2018 included EDSA, C5, Roxas Boulevard, Alabang-Zapote Road, and roads within Mandaluyong City.
Here’s a more detailed list of roads where window hours were not applicable in 2018:
Circumferential Roads (C1 to C6)
- C-1 C.M. Recto Avenue (Roxas Blvd to Legarda)
- C-2 A.H. Lacson/Quirino Avenue (Roxas Blvd to R-10)
- C-3 G. Araneta Avenue/Sgt. Rivera (N. Domingo to R-10)
- C-4 EDSA (R-10 to Macapagal Blvd)
- C-5 (Commonwealth Ave to South Super Highway)
- C-6
Radial Roads (R1 to R10)
- R-1 Roxas Boulevard (CM Recto to MIA Road)
- R-2 Taft Avenue (Lawton to Redemptorist)
- R-3 South Superhighway (Quirino to Nichols Interchange)
- R-4 Shaw Boulevard (R. Magsaysay Blvd to Pasig Blvd)
- R-5 Ortigas Avenue (Santolan to Imelda Avenue)
- R-6 Aurora Boulevard/R Magsaysay Boulevard (R. Magsaysay/Legarda to C-5 Katipunan)
- R-7 Espana/Quezon Avenue/Commonwealth Avenue
- R-8 A. Bonifacio Avenue (Blumentritt to EDSA Balintawak)
- R-9 Rizal Avenue (Carriedo to Monumento)
- R-10 Northern Coastal (Recto to C-4)
Major Highways
- A. Mabini Street (Samson Road to C-3)
- Alabang-Zapote Road (Alabang to Real Street/Quirino Avenue)
- McArthur Highway (Monumento to Valenzuela/Meycauayan Boundary)
- Marcos Highway (Katipunan Ave to Sumulong Highway)
- East and West NLEX Service Road through Valenzuela
Additionally, cities like Las Piñas, Mandaluyong, Makati, and certain areas of Pasay City did not observe window hours within their jurisdictions, further tightening the restrictions in those areas.
Vehicles Exempt from Number Coding
Certain types of vehicles were exempted from the Number Coding scheme in 2018, recognizing their essential functions or unique circumstances. These exemptions included:
- Ambulances, fire trucks, police patrol cars, and military vehicles
- Cargo trucks and other heavy vehicles (exceeding 4,500 kg gross weight)
- Department of Tourism (DOT) accredited tourism vehicles
- Government-commandeered vehicles for relief or emergency purposes
- Vehicles carrying individuals needing immediate medical attention
- Diplomatic vehicles with diplomatic license plates
- MMDA-accredited tow trucks
- Government vehicles with government plates or appropriate LTO stickers
- Vehicles transporting perishable goods in commercial quantities
Penalties for Violations
In 2018, the standard fine for violating the Number Coding scheme was PHP300. Prompt payment within seven days was advised to avoid increased penalties during license renewal. Payment could be made at Metrobank, SM Payment Center, or Bayad Center branches. However, it’s important to note that some cities, like Muntinlupa, imposed higher fines, with escalating penalties for repeat offenses.
City-Specific Number Coding Variations
Beyond the Metro Manila-wide UVVRP, some cities implemented their own variations of number coding in 2018 to manage local traffic conditions. Pasig City, for instance, had an Odd-Even traffic scheme in specific areas since December 2016. This scheme operated from 6 AM to 10 PM, Monday to Saturday, in areas like San Guillermo Avenue/Buting Eastbound and Elisco Road. License plates ending in odd numbers were restricted on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, while even-numbered plates were restricted on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
Valenzuela City also implemented its own number coding scheme starting September 2018, enforced on roads like McArthur Highway and Maysan-Paso de Blas Road. Similar to the expanded UVVRP, Valenzuela’s scheme ran from 7 AM to 8 PM with no window hours and was only suspended on holidays.
The Effectiveness of Car Coding in 2018
By 2018, it was becoming evident that the effectiveness of the Number Coding scheme in truly solving Metro Manila’s traffic problem was being challenged. The sheer volume of vehicles, coupled with the lack of a robust public transportation system, contributed to persistent congestion. Many Filipinos opted to purchase cars, sometimes even multiple vehicles per household to circumvent coding restrictions, inadvertently adding to the overall traffic volume. This raised questions about the long-term viability of number coding as a standalone solution to Manila’s traffic woes.
While the Number Coding scheme aimed to reduce traffic volume, the increasing number of vehicles on the road and evolving commuting patterns meant that traffic in Manila remained a significant challenge in 2018. Understanding the specific rules and roads affected during that year was crucial for navigating the city and avoiding penalties.
