House minority bloc pushes for 3-digit number coding scheme during holidays

The minority bloc of the House of Representatives is pushing for the implementation of the three-digit number coding scheme in a bid to reduce the expected traffic buildup in the upcoming holiday season.

At a press conference, Minority Leader Danilo Suarez said projects aimed at improving the public transportation system and addressing traffic are "now on their way" with the Duterte administration's "Build, Build, Build" infrastructure development program.

He noted the several projects that government agencies and units have implemented to ease traffic congestion, including the conduct of clearing operations of roads and sidewalks, declaring tow away zones, and directing barangays to free their roads of obstructions.

"While we appreciate these measures, the minority is reiterating on the benefit of implementing the three-digit number coding scheme," Suarez said.

According to Suarez, the three-digit number coding scheme would eliminate 30 percent of vehicles from the road everyday.

"It would be best to start its implementation by November until the second week of January 2018, or when everyone has already settled from the holidays," he said.

Suarez pointed out that when they originally proposed the scheme, it was met with violent reactions.

"So we choose. Do we maintain the present system, suffer traffic and complain? Or we bite the bullet, make sacrifices, not just for us but for everyone else on the road?" he said.

Suarez called on Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Danilo Lim and General Manager Tim Orbos to take this matter with urgency. — Erwin Colcol/RSJ, GMA News