MMDA Prepares for Traffic Surge During Holy Week, Suspends Number Coding

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) recently announced that the number coding scheme will be lifted from April 12 (Holy Tuesday) to April 15 (Good Friday). This move was done to allow the public to travel earlier and avoid traffic in anticipation of passengers going to the provinces in time for the Holy Week break, according to MMDA Chairman Romando Artes.

“We are suspending the number coding scheme on Tuesday and Wednesday to provide the public unhampered mobility by allowing them to use their vehicles going to the provinces,” Artes explained as he inspected the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) along with other officials from the MMDA, Department of Transportation (DOTr), and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB). “We want to ensure a safe and convenient movement of motorists and commuters during the Holy Week. We have seen that passengers are starting to crowd the terminal. At present, the commuter volume at PITX is 100,000 daily.”

“We will exert all efforts to ensure that there will be a faster turn-around of passenger buses at terminals,” added Artes, noting that traffic personnel has been posted at transport terminals, traffic chokepoint areas, and several major churches. Around 2,861 personnel are deployed in key areas including transport hubs and major thoroughfares as part of the MMDA’s “Oplan Metro Alalay Semana Santa 2022.”

A surge in the number of passengers is expected this week for the first time in two years since the outbreak of the global pandemic, according to DOTr Undersecretary for Road Sector Mark Steven Pastor. This coincides with the free rides for commuters at the EDSA Busway Carousel, which began on Monday. Authorities, however, continue to remind passengers to observe health protocols in an effort to prevent another increase in cases.

Source: BusinessMirror