MMDA suspends number coding tomorrow March 6
MMDA to deploy 25 Libreng Sakay vehicles amid the transport strike starting tomorrow
Earlier this week, transport groups announced they will be holding a week-long strike in defiance of the Land Transportation Franchising & Regulatory Board’s (LTFRB) June 30 deadline for PUVs to shift to more modern units. The agency has since extended the deadline until December 31, 2023, but the transport groups said that the strike will continue.
With the week-long strike set to affect commuters, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has announced that they will be suspending the number coding scheme, AKA the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP).
This was officially confirmed by the MMDA during an inter-agency meeting today as they are finalizing the emergency plans, transport routes, and prepositioning of assets for the upcoming transport strike. However, the MMDA reiterated that the suspension of the UVVRP is only for tomorrow March 6, for now at least.
According to MMDA General Manager Usec. Procopio Lipana, the MMDA will still need to assess if there is a need to suspend the number coding scheme in the coming days.
“The UVVRP suspension is for Monday only. We will assess if there is a need to suspend the number coding scheme on the succeeding days, depending on the gravity of the transport strike,” said Lipana.
During the duration of the said strike, the MMDA will deploy 25 “Libreng Sakay” vehicles. These will include air-conditioned buses, non-air-conditioned buses, and 13 commuter vans which can carry around 1,200 passengers per trip. On the other hand, around 1,200 vehicles will be dispatched by local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila to help ferry stranded commuters.
Last but not least, the MMDA will deploy more than 2,000 personnel to monitor situations on the ground. Their duty is to give immediate feedback and report areas where there are stranded commuters.
With the transport strike set to last until March 12, those that need to get around will have to rely on the PUVs that will be provided by the MMDA and LGUs during the duration of the strike. And since the MMDA will have to gauge whether they have to suspend the UVVRP in the coming days, we’ll be keeping our eyes peeled for any new info regarding this.
