Number coding suspended on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday in NCR

MANILA: The Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (commonly known as the number coding scheme) in the National Capital Region (NCR) shall be suspended on March 28-29 (Maundy Thursday and Good Friday) in observance of the Holy Week.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Acting Chairman Romando Artes said that the aforementioned traffic mitigation scheme will be lifted on the said dates as those are declared as regular holidays.

To ensure the safety and convenience of the public on the said days, the agency shall deploy 2,274 personnel on various major roads, transportation hubs, and other key areas in the region as part of its “Oplan Semana Santa 2024.”

“We will have our full deployment in MMDA. Our agency is prepared to cope with the expected influx of passengers for this year’s observance of the Lenten season,” Artes said, adding that commuters can expect a faster turnaround time of public utility vehicles with the increased visibility of enforcers for traffic management.

“The MMDA Command Center, which can monitor real-time updates on bus terminals across Metro Manila, is fully functional. We will immediately coordinate with the PNP any untoward incident that might occur on the ground,” he added.

Further, the agency will observe a “no day-off and no absent policy” on its traffic and field personnel.

Artes also said that the MMDA Road Emergency Group will be on standby to provide roadside emergency service and assistance to the general public. Ambulances and tow trucks will be deployed at strategic locations and while inter-agency help desks will also be put up near bus terminals and other transport hubs.

He noted that the MMDA would boost its campaign against colorum vehicles in the metropolis.

Meanwhile, round-the-clock roadworks shall be undertaken from 11 p.m. of March 27 to 5 p.m. of April 1 to take advantage of the holiday break.

"The clearance for the 24-hour road works aims to strike a balance between maintaining infrastructure and minimizing disruptions and inconvenience to motorists after the significantly religious holidays," Artes explained.

The following construction works will be done at the following locations:

• Batasan-Commonwealth Tunnel, Filinvest 1 Road to fronting Sandiganbayan (first lane from plant box, Quezon City)
• West Avenue, Ligaya Street to Del Monte Avenue (first lane from sidewalk), Quezon City
• Luzon Avenue southbound, Congressional Avenue Extension to before Luzon Flyover (first lane from center), Quezon City
• Commonwealth Avenue, Landbank to Elliptical Road (third lane from sidewalk), Quezon City
• Mindanao Avenue, Tandang Sora Avenue to Longines Street (truck lane), Quezon City
• Mindanao Avenue Tunnel to Sauyo Road (truck lane), Quezon City
• Payatas Road, Batasan Road to Bayanihan Street, Quezon City
• Payatas Road between Singko and Leyte Streets, Quezon City
• Payatas Road before Maynilad Pumping Station to Petron Gas Station (first lane from sidewalk), Quezon City 
• IBP-San Mateo Road, Quezon City 
• Roxas Boulevard northbound between Lourdes and Vicente Sotto Streets, Pasay City
• Roxas Boulevard northbound between Remedios and Pasaje Del Carmen Streets, Pasay City
• Roxas Boulevard Epifanio delos Avenue (EDSA) Flyover southbound bridge approach (outer and inner lanes), Pasay City
• South Superhighway East Service Road, Parañaque City
• EDSA northbound Guadalupe before bridge (third lane), Makati City 
• EDSA northbound Guadalupe P. Burgos Street near Jollibee and McDonald's (fourth lane), Makati City
• EDSA northbound Guadalupe JP Rizal Extension (second lane), Makati City
• EDSA northbound Guadalupe JP Rizal Extension near Stoplight (second lane), Makati City 

Photos from Ruben Manahan IV, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority

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