Anticipating the heavy traffic for the coming holidays, the MMDA plans to remove the coding window with the current number coding scheme permanently.
The MMDA approved a resolution to remove the current window hours for its number coding scheme last October 25. However, the MMDA clarified on its official Twitter/X account that it has yet to implement the removal of the coding window since they have to study the volume of vehicles after the long holiday.
As of today (November 6), the number coding scheme that MMDA is implementing includes a window from 10AM to 5PM. One of MMDA’s admins on Facebook confirmed that there’s no advisory yet on when the no window hour coding scheme will be implemented.
Aside from its plan to remove the coding window permanently, there are no other significant changes to the number coding scheme. If there’s any consolation, at least it is not as ridiculous as its other proposal where cars ending in 1,3,5,7,9 are prohibited every Monday and Tuesday while those ending in 2,4,6,8,0 are prohibited from public roads every Tuesday and Friday.
Motorists should not have a hard time adjusting to this coding scheme where there are no window hours, as cities like Makati and Las Pinas have been strictly enforcing this already.
Aside from its plans to remove window hours permanently, the MMDA coordinated with major mall operators to adjust their operating hours to 11AM-11PM starting November 13. Aside from the adjusted operating hours, the MMDA also informed mall operators that mall-wide sales are only allowed during weekends and that deliveries are only allowed from 11PM to 5PM except for supermarkets and restaurants serving breakfast.