Driving in Metro Manila in 2019 meant understanding and living with the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP), more commonly known as the Number Coding scheme. For many drivers, this system, designed to alleviate traffic congestion, was a daily consideration when planning commutes. Whether you were a seasoned Manila driver or a visitor, familiarity with Number Coding was essential to avoid penalties and ensure smooth travels.
Understanding the Basics of Number Coding
Implemented by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), the Number Coding system aimed to reduce the volume of vehicles on major roads. Dating back to MMDA Memorandum Regulation No. 95-001 in 1995, and revised in 1996 through MMDA Memorandum Regulation No. 96-005, by 2019, the scheme restricted vehicles based on the last digit of their license plates on specific weekdays. This meant certain vehicles were prohibited from traversing designated roads on particular days from Monday to Friday.
Metro Manila Number Coding Restrictions in 2019
The operational days for the Number Coding in Metro Manila were clearly defined:
- 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
These restrictions were in effect from 7 AM to 8 PM. It’s crucial to note that certain major thoroughfares, specifically EDSA, Circumferential Roads, and Roxas Boulevard, operated without “window hours,” meaning the restrictions were continuous during these hours. Motorcycles, however, were exempt from these Number Coding regulations, offering a degree of flexibility for two-wheeled commuters.
Window Hours Explained
Window hours provided a temporary reprieve within the Number Coding schedule. During these periods, typically spanning five to seven hours (either 10 AM to 3 PM or 9 AM to 4 PM), vehicles otherwise restricted could be driven. However, window hours were not universally applied across all cities and roads within Metro Manila. The cities that implemented window hours in 2019 were:
Cities with 10 AM to 3 PM Window Hours:
- Caloocan
- Malabon
- Manila
- Navotas
- Pateros
- Quezon City
- San Juan
Cities with 9 AM to 4 PM Window Hours:
- Parañaque
- Pasig
Roads Without Window Hours in Metro Manila
For precise navigation, understanding roads without window hours was paramount in Metro Manila during 2019. These primarily included Circumferential and Radial Roads:
Circumferential Roads:
- C-1 Road (Recto Avenue, Pedro Casal Street, Ayala Boulevard, Finance Drive, Padre Burgos Avenue)
- C-2 Road (Capulong Street, Tayuman Street, Lacson Avenue, Quirino Avenue)
- C-3 Road (C-3 Road Navotas, 5th Avenue, Sergeant E. Rivera Avenue, Gregorio Araneta Avenue, Metro Manila Skybridge, South Avenue, Ayala Avenue Extension, Gil Puyat Avenue)
- C-4 Road (C-4 Road in Malabon, Paterio Aquino Avenue, Samson Road, EDSA)
- C-5 Road (Mindanao Avenue Congressional Avenue, Luzon Avenue, Tandang Sora Avenue, Katipunan Avenue, Bonny Serrano Avenue, E. Rodriguez Jr. Carlos P. Garcia Avenue)
- C-6 Road (from Napindan, Pasig to Lower Bicutan, Taguig)
Radial Roads:
- R-1 Road (Bonifacio Drive to Roxas Boulevard)
- R-2 Road (Taft Avenue in Manila to Diego Cera Avenue in Las Piñas)
- R-3 Road (Osmeña Highway from Quirino Avenue to Nichols Interchange)
- R-4 Road (Pasig Line Street, Kalayaan Avenue, Elizco Road)
- R-5 Road (V. Mapa Street, P. Sanchez Street, Shaw Boulevard, Pasig Boulevard, Ortigas Avenue Extension)
- R-6 Road (Legarda Street, Magsaysay Boulevard, Aurora Boulevard, Marcos Highway)
- R-7 Road (Lerma Avenue, España Boulevard, Elliptical Road, Commonwealth Avenue, Quirino Highway)
- R-8 Road (Quezon Boulevard, Alfonso Mendoza Street, Dimasalang Street, Bonifacio Avenue up to EDSA-Balintawak Interchange)
- R-9 Road (Rizal Avenue, MacArthur Highway to Valenzuela-Meycauayan Bridge)
- R-10 Road (from Anda Circle to C-4 Road in Navotas)
Additional Roads Without Window Hours:
- Alabang-Zapote Road
- A. Mabini Street
- Marcos Highway
- McArthur Highway
Cities Without Number Coding (Mostly)
Interestingly, some cities within the Philippines, as of 2019, had not fully implemented the Number Coding system across their entire jurisdictions. These cities offered some respite from the daily restrictions:
- Marikina
- Muntinlupa
- Taguig
However, even in these cities, specific roads still enforced Number Coding, highlighting the need for drivers to remain informed about particular routes:
- Marikina: Marcos Highway
- Muntinlupa: Alabang-Zapote Road
- Taguig: C-5 Road (Carlos P. Garcia Avenue), C-6 Road, East Service Road, M.L. Quezon Street
Exemptions from Number Coding
Recognizing the essential functions of certain vehicles, the MMDA provided exemptions from the UVVRP in a 2011 memorandum. These exemptions were crucial for services requiring constant mobility:
- Ambulances, police cars, and fire trucks
- Cargo trucks exceeding 4,500 kilograms
- Government vehicles for emergency purposes
- Diplomatic vehicles with blue plates
- Government vehicles with official markings
- MMDA-accredited tow trucks
Beyond these automatic exemptions, certain organizations and individuals could apply for exemptions for vehicles such as school buses, media vehicles, emergency medical doctors’ vehicles, company shuttles, vehicles for persons with disabilities, and Department of Tourism-accredited vehicles. This process offered a pathway for necessary vehicles to operate without daily restrictions.
Pasig City’s Odd-Even Scheme
Adding a layer of complexity to car coding in Manila and surrounding areas in 2019 was Pasig City’s unique odd-even scheme. This system, active from 6 AM to 10 PM, rotated vehicle restrictions based on whether license plates ended in odd or even numbers. Sundays were free from these restrictions.
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday: Plates ending in 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 (even numbers) were banned.
- Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday: Plates ending in 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 (odd numbers) were banned.
This odd-even rule, carrying a Php 500 penalty for violations, was enforced on specific roads within Pasig City:
- Elsico Road-R. Jabson Street-M. Concepcion Avenue intersection
- San Guillermo Street eastbound
- Sandoval Avenue northbound
- Elisco Road westbound
- R. Jabson Street northbound
- Francisco Legaspi Bridge westbound
Navigating Manila’s roads in 2019 required a detailed understanding of the Number Coding system and its nuances, including window hours and Pasig City’s odd-even scheme. While potentially complex, these regulations were a part of daily driving life, aimed at managing traffic flow within the bustling metropolis. For those on two wheels, motorcycles offered a convenient bypass to these restrictions.
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