MMDA issues guidelines for number coding on vehicles with conduction stickers

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority on Friday issued guidelines for the inclusion of new vehicles with conduction stickers under the number coding scheme.

 

In Memorandum Circular No. 6, the MMDA reiterated the rules of the number coding scheme will apply to such vehicles, based on the last digit of the conduction sticker.

 

"Without prejudice to the apprehension for other traffic law violations, new vehicles which are still without any (Land Transportation Office) license plates installed shall be covered by the (number coding scheme) using the last numerical digit of the conduction sticker to determine the day when the subject vehicle is banned," said the memorandum signed Friday by MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino.

 

Under the number coding scheme, vehicles are banned from major Metro Manila roads from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. depending on the last digit on their license plates.

 

Vehicles with plate numbers ending in 1 or 2 are barred from major roads on Monday; 3 and 4 on Tuesdays; 5 and 6 on Wednesdays; 7 and 8 on Thursdays; and 9 and 0 on Fridays.

 

Under the MMDA's guidelines, owners of new vehicles should not detach the conduction sticker from the vehicle before the LTO plates are issued.

 

The MMDA also required owners and dealers of new vehicles to "display the conduction sticker number prominently on the spaces allotted for regular license plates," in the front and rear of the vehicle.

 

Conduction stickers are to be replaced immediately by regular LTO plates once the plates are issued.

 

Meanwhile, the MMDA said LTO Memorandum Circular VPT-2012-1640 dated March 30, 2012 will still be implemented. Under this circular, drivers of vehicles without license plates shall not be apprehended so long as they can show documents indicating the vehicle has been registered with the LTO.

 

Violations of the new guidelines may merit a fine of P300, the MMDA said.

 

The new guidelines will take effect 15 days after publication, it added.

 

LTO memo

 

Citing the Land Transportation Office's Memorandum Circular No. 3 in 2011, it noted license plates such as vanity plates and the optional motor vehicle special plates are covered by the number coding scheme, with the last digit as basis for coverage.

 

LTO Memorandum Circular 3 also pointed out the "last digit of the unexpired and valid conduction stickers issued by the LTO to newly acquired vehicles shall be considered in the implementation" of the number coding scheme.

 

High volume

 

In including vehicles with conduction stickers under the number coding scheme, the MMDA noted the high volume of vehicles in Metro Manila.

 

The MMDA said there were 53,140 cars, 55,218 utility vehicles, 30,713 sport utility vehicles and 1,333 buses newly registered in Metro Manila in 2012.

 

It said these do not include vehicles registered in nearby regions but which use Metro Manila's roads.

 

Also, it said the LTO has a temporary unavailability of license plates for new vehicles. —KG, GMA News