elgatonegro
April 6th, 2006, 07:22 PM
STARTING today, motorists can take their cars out on any road in the metropolis this summer—anytime of the day, any day of the week—except in Makati City.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced yesterday that it is lifting the implementation of the Unified Vehicle Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP) until June 2. The announcement came after 16 of the 17 Metro mayors signed the resolution calling for the lifting of the number coding scheme because of the fewer cars on the road during summer.
“Majority of the mayors signed the resolution so it’s already approved. Number coding would be lifted until classes resume,” said MMDA Traffic Operations Center Executive Director Angelito Vergel de Dios.
Only Makati’s Jejomar Binay did not sign the resolution as he said that the school break would have no effect on the volume of traffic in the financial district. Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi was one of the last to sign the resolution.
Fresnedi said he approved the lifting of the UVVRP in the city even though work had already begun on the rehabilitation of the Alabang Viaduct and South Luzon Expressway.
“Lifting the scheme in other cities would be pointless if it has not been suspended in other districts,” he told the Inquirer in a phone interview.
Fresnedi said alternate routes have already been mapped out for motorists, especially those who would pass through the Alabang interchange.
“The Philippine National Construction Corp. and the city’s traffic bureau have come up with a plan to mitigate inconveniences that the rehabilitation might bring about to motorists,” he added.
MMDA Chair Bayani Fernando earlier proposed the lifting of the UVVRP as studies showed a 30 percent decrease in vehicular volume on roads leading to school zones during the summer break.
The two-month suspension would be the longest period that the number-coding scheme would not be implemented in the metropolis.
Under the UVVRP, cars stay off the road on certain days of the week based on the last digit of their plate number.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced yesterday that it is lifting the implementation of the Unified Vehicle Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP) until June 2. The announcement came after 16 of the 17 Metro mayors signed the resolution calling for the lifting of the number coding scheme because of the fewer cars on the road during summer.
“Majority of the mayors signed the resolution so it’s already approved. Number coding would be lifted until classes resume,” said MMDA Traffic Operations Center Executive Director Angelito Vergel de Dios.
Only Makati’s Jejomar Binay did not sign the resolution as he said that the school break would have no effect on the volume of traffic in the financial district. Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi was one of the last to sign the resolution.
Fresnedi said he approved the lifting of the UVVRP in the city even though work had already begun on the rehabilitation of the Alabang Viaduct and South Luzon Expressway.
“Lifting the scheme in other cities would be pointless if it has not been suspended in other districts,” he told the Inquirer in a phone interview.
Fresnedi said alternate routes have already been mapped out for motorists, especially those who would pass through the Alabang interchange.
“The Philippine National Construction Corp. and the city’s traffic bureau have come up with a plan to mitigate inconveniences that the rehabilitation might bring about to motorists,” he added.
MMDA Chair Bayani Fernando earlier proposed the lifting of the UVVRP as studies showed a 30 percent decrease in vehicular volume on roads leading to school zones during the summer break.
The two-month suspension would be the longest period that the number-coding scheme would not be implemented in the metropolis.
Under the UVVRP, cars stay off the road on certain days of the week based on the last digit of their plate number.