Titos and Titas, The 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Car Ban Is Not In Effect... Yet
Have you seen the post?
(SPOT.ph) UPDATED: Will there be a 12-hour car ban without window hours in Metro Manila? Your tito or tita—or even your parents or friends—may have shared a screenshot of an official-looking announcement saying there's a 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. number coding scheme happening soon, but the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) issued a clarification saying there's no such announcement made by the agency—at least for now.
The current number coding scheme from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. from Monday to Friday still stands in Metro Manila, except in Makati City where there are no window hours during number coding, the MMDA said on X (formerly known as Twitter) as response to queries.
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What the viral number coding "memo" says
Certain screenshots of an official-looking memo circulating on social media showed that during the "Ber" months, vehicles restricted on public Metro Manila roads during number coding will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. without window hours to ease traffic congestion in the capital. It's basically the Makati number coding scheme, except it's applied in other major roads like EDSA, Roxas Boulevard, Taft Avenue, SLEX, Alabang-Zapote Road and other thoroughfares.
According to the memo, it was approved and adopted on October 6, 2023.
When asked by X users on whether or not the memo is true, the official MMDA account said: "Wala pa po tayong advise. Dating coding pa din po ang ating susundin. Salamat po."
While the recommendation to remove the window hours during number coding has been approved, the MMDA has yet to issue an advisory as to when this will be implemented.
“We will assess first the situation of Metro Manila roads from November 6 to 12, after the return of vacationers from the provinces for the Undas break. We expect 15 to 20% additional vehicle volume as the holiday nears, that’s the time we will decide whether or not to implement the 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. number coding scheme in Metro Manila," said MMDA Acting Chairman Don Artes in a statement.
It will not be the first time for a 12-hour number coding ban with no window hours is in effect in Metro Manila. It was done before in October 2016.
Editor's note: The article has been updated to reflect the statement of MMDA Acting Chairman Don Artes.