Navigating Metro Manila and other Philippine cities requires understanding the Number Coding Scheme. As a car owner or driver, especially if you’re new to driving in the Philippines, grasping this traffic management system is crucial to avoid fines and ensure smooth journeys. This comprehensive guide, brought to you by carcodescanner.store, your trusted source for automotive expertise, will break down everything you need to know about “Coding Cars Philippines” in 2024.
Understanding the Number Coding Scheme
Let’s start with the basics: what exactly is the Number Coding Scheme? Officially known as the Unified Vehicle Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP), it’s an initiative by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to manage traffic flow. The scheme restricts vehicles from using major roads on weekdays (Monday to Friday) based on the last digit of their license plates.
Introduced in 1995 initially for public utility vehicles (PUVs), it was later expanded to all vehicles, especially on EDSA, a major Metro Manila thoroughfare. Weekends and holidays are exempt from number coding. Interestingly, the UVVRP was temporarily suspended from March 2020 to November 2021 during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Is Number Coding Currently in Effect?
Yes, as of June 2024, the Number Coding scheme is active and being enforced. The MMDA expanded the scheme effective August 15, 2022, reintroducing morning and evening coding hours. These restricted hours are from 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM and again from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Monday to Friday, excluding weekends and holidays.
During these “window hours,” coded vehicles are free to travel between 10:01 AM and 4:59 PM and from 8:01 PM to 6:59 AM the next day in areas with window hour implementations. However, it’s essential to remember that specific cities or roads might have variations to this schedule.
Determining Your Car’s Coding Day
Knowing your car’s coding day is simple. It depends on the last digit of your license plate:
- Mondays: Plates ending in 1 and 2
- Tuesdays: Plates ending in 3 and 4
- Wednesdays: Plates ending in 5 and 6
- Thursdays: Plates ending in 7 and 8
- Fridays: Plates ending in 9 and 0
So, if your license plate ends in 3, your car is coded on Tuesdays and should not be on covered roads during coding hours on those days.
Number Coding Hours: Morning and Afternoon Restrictions
In Metro Manila, the expanded number coding scheme operates during rush hours:
- Morning Rush Hour: 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM
- Afternoon/Evening Peak Hours: 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM
This schedule is generally followed across the National Capital Region (NCR). However, it’s vital to be aware of exceptions. For example, Makati City implements a full-day coding scheme. Always verify specific city rules if you are unsure, especially when driving in areas like Makati.
Window Hours Explained
“Window hours” are the periods within the day when coded vehicles are allowed to drive despite their coding day. These are typically from 10:01 AM to 4:59 PM in areas that implement them. This means that in cities with window hours, you can drive your coded car during these mid-day hours without violation.
However, a critical point to remember is that Radial Roads, Circumferential Roads, and National Roads often do not observe window hours. Always double-check the specific road and city regulations to avoid any confusion and potential penalties.
Roads Covered by the Number Coding Scheme
The MMDA enforces number coding on all major roads under its jurisdiction. These include vital Metro Manila thoroughfares:
- EDSA
- C5
- Recto Avenue
- Quirino Avenue
- Araneta Avenue
- C6
- Roxas Boulevard
- Taft Avenue
- Shaw Boulevard
- Ortigas Avenue
- Magsaysay Boulevard
- Aurora Boulevard
- Quezon Avenue
- Bonifacio Avenue
- Rizal Avenue
- Del Pan
- Marcos Highway
If your route involves any of these roads during coding hours on your car’s coding day, you’ll need to find an alternative route or travel outside coding hours.
Areas Exempt from Number Coding
Certain areas and roads are excluded from the Number Coding Scheme. Notably, privately operated tollways are generally exempt. Here’s a list of areas where number coding typically does not apply:
- NAIA Expressway
- Skyway System
- South Luzon Expressway (SLEX)
- Domestic Road
- Ninoy Aquino Avenue
- MIA Road
- Sales Road
- Parts of Airport Road
- Some parts of Buendia (Gil Puyat Avenue)
- Tollway extensions like NLEX Harbor Link
Within municipalities, some local roads may also be exempt. Always verify local ordinances for the most accurate information.
Vehicles Exempt from the Coding Scheme
Certain types of vehicles are automatically exempt from the Number Coding Scheme to ensure public transportation and essential services are not disrupted. These include:
- Public Utility Vehicles (PUVs) including buses, jeepneys, and tricycles
- Transport Network Vehicle Services (TNVS) – ride-hailing services
- 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 (EVs) and Hybrid Vehicles with proper LTO Certification and special EV/Hybrid plates
It’s crucial to note that Makati City has stricter exemption rules. In Makati, exemptions are primarily for vehicles carrying senior citizen BluCard holders, emergency vehicles, vehicles on official functions, and electric vehicles. Always check Makati City’s specific regulations if you are driving there.
EV and Hybrid Vehicle Exemption: Driving Green
Electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid vehicles in the Philippines enjoy exemption from the UVVRP due to Republic Act No. 11697, the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA). This law promotes the use of EVs and hybrids. To qualify, your vehicle’s registration must clearly state it is a hybrid or electric vehicle, and it should ideally have the special EV or Hybrid vehicle plates issued by the LTO.
Mild Hybrids and Coding Exemption: Know the Difference
It’s important to understand that not all “hybrid” vehicles qualify for coding exemption. “Mild-hybrid” vehicles, which primarily use a combustion engine with minimal electric assist, are not typically exempted. Exemption is generally for vehicles recognized by the Department of Energy (DOE) as capable of electric-only propulsion.
Before purchasing a vehicle expecting coding exemption, verify with the DOE’s list of recognized EVs and Hybrids to confirm its eligibility. This ensures you avoid any misunderstanding about your vehicle’s coding status.
Penalties for Number Coding Violations
Violating the Number Coding Scheme comes with penalties. If caught, you’ll face a standard fine ranging from P300 to P500, depending on the location of the violation. This fine needs to be settled within seven days to avoid further complications during driver’s license renewal or vehicle registration.
Paying Your Number Coding Fine
Paying your fine is now more convenient than ever. MMDA-approved payment channels include:
- Landbank
- SM Bills Payment Centers
- Bayad Center and Bayad Center partners like GCash, PayMaya, and GrabPay
In 2023, the MMDA also introduced handheld ticketing devices which can process payments on the spot, making fine settlement more efficient.
City-Specific Number Coding Rules: A Quick Guide
While Metro Manila generally follows the MMDA’s coding scheme, some cities have specific variations:
- Alabang, Muntinlupa City: Generally no coding, except for Ayala-Alabang National Road and Alabang-Zapote Road corner Buencamino and North Gate (MMDA scheme applies). Fines vary for violations on these specific roads.
- Makati City: Strictly enforces coding from 7 AM to 7 PM without window hours. Limited exemptions apply (senior citizens, emergency vehicles, official functions, EVs). Fine is P300.
- Quezon City, Pasig City, Pasay City, Paranaque City, Mandaluyong City, Valenzuela City: Generally follow the MMDA’s 7 AM to 10 AM and 5 PM to 8 PM coding with window hours from 10:01 AM to 4:59 PM. Pasay City has specific exemptions for thoroughfares like Domestic Road, Ninoy Aquino Avenue, MIA Road, Sales Road, and parts of Buendia.
- Manila City: Mixed implementation. Some areas follow MMDA coding with window hours, others have no window hours. Check specific locations within Manila.
- San Juan City: Coding from 7 AM to 7 PM, with window hours from 10 AM to 3 PM (as of last update, confirm current rules).
- Caloocan City: 7 AM to 10 AM and 5 PM to 8 PM coding with window hours, except for Samson Road which has no window hours.
- Taguig City: Partially exempt. Coding applies to national roads within Taguig, including East Service Road and Manuel L. Quezon Avenue.
Number Coding Outside Metro Manila
The UVVRP extends beyond Metro Manila to other congested cities, including:
- Baguio City: Coding in selected areas, especially tourist spots like Session Road, Burnham Park, and Baguio City Market, from 7 AM to 7 PM. Central Business District also has 7 AM to 7 PM coding on weekdays. Fine is P500.
- Cabanatuan and Dagupan: Follow the same daily license plate restriction as Metro Manila.
- Cavite Province: Previously had UVRS, but number coding is currently suspended under Provincial Ordinance 283-2020 until further notice.
Future Updates to the Coding Scheme
The Number Coding Scheme is not static and has evolved since 1995. The MMDA continuously explores ways to improve traffic management. In 2022, they considered more stringent options like a two-day vehicle ban per week or a more complex coding system.
Proposed options included:
- Odd-Even Scheme: Odd-numbered plates restricted Mondays/Thursdays, even-numbered plates Tuesdays/Fridays, Wednesdays no coding.
- More Complex Scheme: Different plate number groups restricted each day to reduce traffic by a larger percentage.
As of now, these more drastic changes have not been implemented due to public feedback and complexity concerns. However, it’s essential to stay informed about potential future updates from the MMDA regarding “coding cars philippines” as changes can be introduced to further refine traffic management.
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