‘Brand coding’ system proposed to address Metro Manila traffic

A coding system based on car brands should be enforced to address traffic, a retired overseas Filipino worker recommended, according to a report by Sherrie Ann Torres on GMA’s News to Go.

 

“Gusto ko ring tumulong. Baka pwedeng subukan 'ka 'ko,” retired OFW Dominador “Mang Macky” Macadenden said. “Pabor na rin sa akin at sa mga kapwa nating Pinoy.”

 

The “brand coding” traffic scheme proposed by Macadenden is as follows:

 

 

The following vehicles aren’t included in the brand coding scheme he proposed:

 

 

But according to Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Emerson Carlos, this proposed system still won’t be enough to lessen traffic since the number of cars per brand on the road isn’t the same and the number coding system is still in place.

 

“Kung gawin nating brand coding, hindi naman siguro maraming, pantay-pantay ang dami ng mga may-ari ng sasakyan na itong brand ang binili or another brand ang binili,” Carlos said. “So in effect baka may isang araw na ipinagbawal natin ang isang particular brand ng sasakyan, baka kokonti lang ‘yun, or, the other way around or masyadong marami, ubos 'yung mga sasakyan. So hindi equitable yata ‘yun.”

 

There are 2.5 million registered cars in Metro Manila right now with another 2 million in nearby provinces in Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog that also enter Metro Manila.

 

The MMDA says that the current number coding scheme is still effective when it comes to handling the large volume of traffic in Metro Manila.

 

“Is (the number coding) effective? Ang answer diyan ay tingnan mo lang ang volume ng traffic sa weekdays compared mo sa Sabado,” Carlos said, adding that on Saturdays there’s 20 percent more vehicles on the road compared to on weekdays.

 

Because of the heavy traffic in Metro Manila’s cities, a number of mayors have suggested the removal of the number coding’s 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekday window period.

 

Carlos said that discussion on this suggestion will only happen when somebody submits a formal recommendation to the MMDA. —Bea Montenegro/KG, GMA News