The week-long transport strike has begun, and the MMDA Coding scheme has been declared suspended today, March 6, 2023. The strike follows transport group Manibela’s announcement that they will cease operations of the PUV fleets in protest of the Public Utility Modernization Program of the PUVMP.
No MMDA Coding for today, no announcement of suspension for the rest of the week yet
The announcement was made official through a post on the MMDA’s Facebook page. Last week, the possibility of lifting the MMDA Coding scheme to alleviate transportation woes has been considered, but the agency has followed through and is, indeed, ceasing its enforcement, at least for today.
Even the city of Makati has gotten on board. In recognition of the plight of commuters, it has likewise suspended its coding scheme. While Makati does not follow the specific rules of the MMDA Coding scheme, it has decided to stop implementation for today, nonetheless. That means that vehicles with license plates ending in 1 and 2 can move freely in and out of the city without being apprehended.
The MMDA and the LGUs on their part will be deploying alternative means of transportation. An estimated 1,200 vehicles will be dispatched in the National Capital Region to help bring commuters to and from their destinations. There will also be more than 2,000 personnel deployed to monitor the situation on the ground and on the streets. They are tasked to give immediate feedback and reports on areas where there are stranded commuters. As for the suspension of MMDA Coding in the following days, that remains to be announced.
“The UVVRP suspension is for Monday only. We will assess if there is a need to suspend the number coding scheme on the succeeding days, depending on the gravity of the transport strike,” said MMDA General Manager Usec. Procopio Lipana, who is also the head of the Inter-Agency Task Force Monitoring Team secretariat.
Despite the deadline for consolidation and franchise expiry being extended to December 31, 2023, Manibela and other transport groups have gone ahead with the transport strike. A big number of other transport groups have opposed it, though, and continue to ply their routes across the nation.
We hope that you are not affected as badly, our dear readers. Do stay safe out there, and may the odds be ever in your favor.
