Afternoon number coding improved EDSA traffic, MMDA exec says

Traffic on EDSA has improved with the implementation of the modified number coding scheme in the National Capital Region, an official of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said on Tuesday.

In a radio interview, MMDA’s Traffic Engineering Center director Naoemi Tibayan cited faster travel speed and shorter queues of vehicles in traffic jams.

“Ang initial assessment namin last week, napuna namin by 8 p.m. medyo maluwag na (In our initial assessment last week, we observed the traffic was already lighter by 8 p.m.),” she said.

“Nag-improve naman at bumilis 'yung travel speed (The traffic improved and the travel speed became faster),” Tibayan added.

Starting December 1, the MMDA reinstated the modified number coding scheme from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays, excluding holidays, that only covers private vehicles.

The number coding scheme in Metro Manila had been suspended since last year due to the limited public transportation amid the pandemic.

Tibayan added that the vehicles traversing EDSA per day reached 401,000 in November, which is close to the pre-pandemic record at 405,000 vehicles daily. —KG, GMA News