The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has proposed a new plate number system that would give new cars the same plate number ending as their owners’ old vehicles.
The scheme would prevent motorists from buying new vehicles to avoid being subject to number coding, MMDA chairman Romando Artes said.
“Sumulat po ang MMDA sa LTO (Land Transportation Office) para po ‘yung bibili ng bagong sasakyan na mayroon na pong existing na sasakyan, ang ma-issue pong plaka or ending plate ng plaka ng bago nilang bibilhing sasakyan ay katulad na rin ng existing na sasakyan nila,” Artes told President Rodrigo Duterte in a “Talk to the People” address.
Artes said the MMDA had been told that the coding system was “anti-poor” and did not affect those with multiple vehicles.
Artes also proposed a new number coding scheme that aimed to reduce traffic volume by 40 percent, or double than Modified Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program’s target traffic volume reduction.
The proposed scheme will prohibit vehicles with plate numbers ending in 1 and 2 from city streets every Monday and Wednesday; 3 and 4 every Monday and Thursday; 5 and 6 every Tuesday and Thursday; 7 and 8 Tuesday and Friday; and 9 and 0 every Wednesday and Friday.
The MMDA earlier announced that coding would be suspended from April 12 to 15. John Ezekiel J. Hirro