'No window hours' policy in number coding to be permanent —MMDA

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Thursday said the "no window hours" policy of the number coding scheme will now be permanently implemented.

In a phone interview on Unang Hirit, MMDA Chairman Danny Lim said, "Alam naman natin 'yung sitwasyon natin sa trapiko... at sa ngayon ay umiiral 'yan. Pinag-aralan natin at sa ngayon, wala tayong plano na palitan 'yan. As of now, tuloy na tuloy lang po ang implementasyon niyan."

"Kahit pa'no, imagine kung tatanggalin natin 'yan, lalong lalala 'yung ating sitwasyon. Kaya as of now, wala tayong plano na palitan 'yan," Lim added.

He took note that the traffic situation on EDSA has partially improved following the implementation of the policy.

"Kung meron man eh bahagya. May mga data tayo sa database na kahit pa'no nabawasan ng ilang minuto 'yung takbo, daloy ng trapiko sa EDSA. Pero very obvious na kulang pa rin 'yan. Kaya tumitingin tayo ng ibang pamamaraan para mag-improve ang ating sitwasyon," he said.

Under MMDA's number coding scheme, vehicles with license plates ending in one and two are banned on the road on Mondays, three and four on Tuesdays, five and six on Wednesdays, seven and eight on Thursdays, and nine and zero on Fridays.

With no window hours, affected motor vehicles are prohibited to traverse Metro Manila's major highways such as EDSA and C-5 during the entire period between 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. The window hours allowed affected vehicles to be on the streets between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Meanwhile, Lim also called on the public to develop a "culture of discipline."

"Alam naman natin na napakalaking hamon nitong posisyon na 'to. Hindi lamang traffic ang concern nating lahat—basura, flooding and all others... Ang sinasabi ko lamang ay go back to basics. Huwag muna tayong mag-usap nang komplikado at very fancy solutions and schemes. Pero let's go back to basics, basic implementation ng mga batas," he said.

"Let's develop a culture of discipline. Disiplina hindi lamang sa mga enforcers ng MMDA, (pati) sa mga pedestrian, sa mga motorists, para sa lahat," Lim added. —Anna Felicia Bajo/KG, GMA News