Car brand coding proposed to solve EDSA traffic

The proposal for a car brand coding scheme was presented to the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Monday in a bid to solve the problem on EDSA congestion.

According to a report by Rida Reyes on GMA News TV's State of the Nation with Jessica Soho, under the "Vehicular Brand Reduction Program," private vehicles with certain brands will not be allowed to pass through the busy highway on specific days.

The proposed brand coding was scheduled as follows:

• Monday - Toyota
• Tuesday - Mitsubishi, Hyundai, Isuzu
• Wednesday - Nissan, Ford, Foton
• Thursday - Honda, Chevrolet, Mazda, Subaru
• Friday - Suzuki, Kia, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz
• Saturday - Jac, Tata, Audi, Baic
• Sunday - Mini and Lotus, Volvo, Ssangyong, and others

"Doon ko nakikita 'yung volume eh, sa brand, hindi naman sa plate numbers... Every six months, papalitan natin 'yung schedule nila kasi we have to have monitoring," said Ariston Gorospe who submitted the proposal. 

Exempted from the brand coding scheme are public utility vehicles, emergency vehicles, cargo trucks, as well as government and MMDA-accredited vehicles.

Some motorists disagreed with the proposed measure.

"Sobra na 'yun. Sapat na 'yung number coding. Okay na 'yun," one driver said.

The MMDA said that further studies are needed before such a scheme can be implemented. It added that an effective apprehension mechanism should be developed. —Dona Magsino/LDF, GMA News