MMDA Forwards Suggestions to Address Metro Manila Traffic

There is a possibility that workers in Metro Manila might experience reporting to and leaving work earlier in an effort to ease traffic during peak hours after the idea of a “daylight saving time” system was forwarded to the government by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA). Under this particular system, government work is projected to start at 7 am and end earlier at 4 pm from Monday to Friday.

The MMDA presented the practice as heavy traffic to the capital region returned in light of easing restrictions amidst the ongoing global pandemic. MMDA chair Romando Artes furthered that they took inspiration from other cities like New York, upon which their proposed system was patterned after.

This idea is already under consultation with the Civil Service Commission. According to Artes, the daylight saving system will disrupt government employees from contributing to traffic congestion during the morning and afternoon rush hours. The MMDA, likewise, expressed its support for a four-day workweek — earlier suggested by Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua.

Under this arrangement, employees will experience 10 working hours spread over four days with the possibility of working from home once a week. However, Artes noted that more study and consultation with the labor department are necessary before implementing this type of work arrangement. Identifying proper compensation for overtime work has also been a prominent point under this setup.

Two new number coding schemes have also been suggested by the MMDA to control heavy traffic in Metro Manila, which stemmed from the agency’s recent “traffic summit” with stakeholders in the private sector. Among the two is the odd-even scheme, where plate numbers ending in odd numbers will be banned during rush hour on Monday and Thursday while even numbers will be prohibited on Tuesday and Friday — leaving Wednesday as a day where coding will not be observed.

The other suggestion is a modified number coding scheme that will follow these adjustments:

• Monday: plate numbers ending in 1, 2, 3, 4
• Tuesday: plate numbers ending in 5, 6, 7, 8
• Wednesday: plate numbers ending in 9, 0, 1, 2
• Thursday: plate numbers ending in 3, 4, 5, 6
• Friday: plate numbers ending in 7, 8, 9, 0

The current coding scheme has been reported to only reduce traffic by 20%. The odd-even scheme is projected to cut down traffic by 50%, while the modified coding scheme is expected to slash traffic volume by 40%. Over the past year, 300,000 vehicles — 60-70% of which travel in and out of Metro Manila — were sold based on the data cited by the MMDA.

“Each one was in agreement that there are too many cars in Metro Manila and we really need to reduce them,” explained Artes. To supplement their aim of reducing vehicles on the road, Artes added that the construction of safe walkways and bicycle lanes could also serve to incentivize commuters to walk or bike to work. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) published a study in 2018 which reported that “lost opportunities” in the Philippines amounted to ₱3.5 billion daily due to traffic alone. This figure is projected to triple by 2030.

Source: PhilStar