MMDA extends ‘no-window’ number coding scheme to 8 p.m.

The Metro Manila Council has extended the no-window number coding scheme on the streets and in areas where it is being implemented.

MMDA chairman Thomas Orbos said the council unanimously approved the implementation of the traffic volume reduction scheme from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays to 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Orbos said the MMC also agreed to include Alabang-Zapote Road and Roxas Boulevard on the list of major highways covered by the traffic scheme.

“All mayors were supportive of the no-window scheme, na-reiterate nila yung support nila and officially we are now including Alabang-Zapote and Roxas Boulevard,” Orbos said in an interview in Mandaluyong City.

“They are also approving an expanded application of the no-window scheme... yung inapruhaban nila is 7 a.m. to 8 p.m,” he added.

The Department of Transportation in a statement said that the extension until 8 p.m. of the no-window number coding scheme and the extension of the measure to all radial and circumferential roads "shall take effect on November 1, or five days after publication of a Resolution signed by the Metro Manila mayors."

Today, the no-window-hours policy is being implemented on EDSA, C5, Roxas Boulevard, and Alabang-Zapote Road, and in Mandaluyong, Las Piñas, and Makati.

The areas that will have no window hours by November 1 are:

• C1: CM Recto Avenue
• C2: Pres. Quirino Avenue
• C3: Araneta Avenue
• C4: EDSA
• C5: C.P. Garcia Avenue
• C6: Bulacan-Rizal-Manila-Cavite Regional Expressway
• R1: Roxas Blvd.
• R2: Taft Avenue
• R3: SLEX
• R4: Shaw Blvd.
• R5: Ortigas Avenue
• R6: Magsaysay Blvd./Aurora Blvd.
• R7: Quezon Avenue/Commonweath Avenue
• R8: A. Bonifacio Avenue
• R9: Rizal Avenue
• R10: Del Pan/Marcos Highway/MacArthur Highway

Other areas in Metro Manila will continue to have window hours, with affected vehicles being allowed to use the roads between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

As of 3 p.m., the MMDA apprehended 58 erring motorists along EDSA and 38 in C5 since the scheme went full swing.

Orbos noted that even the mayors in Metro Manila noticed the difference since the pilot testing of the no-window scheme last week, and have in fact proposed a metro-wide policy.

“They realized the effect nung no-window hours nakaganda. Sila mismo, in fact sa usapan namin they are already thinking of a Metro Manila-wide no-window,” he said, adding they only scrapped the idea due to the Christmas season.

“Nag-agree na pag ginawa mo yun, lalo na magpa-Pasko, may mga tatamaan na mga lugar kung saan naman yung komersiyo ay sayang naman at makikinabang sa little they can get for the Christmas season,” Orbos said.

Vehicles whose license plates end in 1 and 2 are prohibited from using Metro Manila's roads on Mondays; those ending in 3 and 4 on Tuesdays; those ending in 5 and 6 on Wednesdays; those ending in 7 and 8 on Thursdays; and those ending in 9 and 0 on Fridays.

The no-window scheme is in effect until January 31, 2017.

Orbos said next on the traffic management projects of the MMDA would be the strict implementation of anti-illegal parking regulations.

No-window for 24 hours?

On the other hand, Caloocan City Mayor Oca Malapitan proposed to implement the no-window scheme for 24 hours since heavy traffic is present on major routes beyond 7 or 8 p.m.

“Kung i-implement, why not the whole day? Kasi palagay mong 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., pagdating ng 8 p.m. marami pang umuuwi nun, e di traffic din yun. Magta-traffic din biro mo [kahit] 10 o 11 p.m. ng gabi trapik pa,” Malapitan said.

He preferred the 24-hour implementation of the scheme since motor vehicles already build up along nearby streets before and after the no-window hours.

“Kumbaga, hinold na natin sila, i-hold na natin ng 24 hours. Kasi 7 hanggang 7 ng gabi, alas sais nandyan na yan, nakaistambay na lang yan sa labasan na hindi sakop ng color coding. Pagpasok ng 7 labasan na yan, e di yung volume ng sasakyan naipon din hanggang 7. Yung 7 considered rush hour pa rin yan,” Malapitan said.

Malapitan added he only proposed the measure during the MMC meeting but was later dismissed because of the Christmas season.

“Kasi raw magpa-Pasko, maraming tatamaan na business establishments lalo na sa bandang south. Nandoon nga naman yung mga malalaking mall, malalaking pasyalan,” he said. —NB/KBK, GMA News